BOSTON (AP) — A U.S. fishing magnate known as The Codfather who pleaded guilty to evading fishing quotas and smuggling money to Portugal has been sentenced in Boston to nearly four years in prison.
Carlos Rafael owns one of the nation’s largest commercial fishing operations, with a fleet of more than 30 vessels, 44 commercial fishing permits and the Carlos Seafood business in New Bedford.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Massachusetts tweets Rafael was sentenced Monday to 46 months behind bars.
Federal authorities say Rafael falsely claimed his vessels caught haddock or pollock when they had actually caught other species subject to stricter quotas. He then sold the fish for cash, some of which was smuggled overseas.
Prosecutors asked for more than four years in prison. Rafael’s attorneys sought two years of probation.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.