Carlos Rafael, the Portuguese businessman known as 'the codfather,' is to confess his fishy crimes in a US court but faces a heavy sentence unless a plea bargain can be arranged.
The Açorean-born businessman owns one of North America's largest commercial fishing operations, Carlos Seafood Inc., but profits from the legitimate trade were not enough to stop him fiddling the system.
Rafael is accused of catching and selling protected species of fish in the United States and shipping bundles of ill-gotten cash back to Portugal.
According to the US attorney general's office, Rafael will appear in court and has agreed to confess to the crimes of non-compliance with fish quotas and the smuggling of illicit profits to Portugal.
The prosecution has not confirmed whether Rafael’s confession means that he has reached an agreement and that he will be fined rather than face trial and a probable prison sentence.
The Portuguese immigrant has been awaiting trial while fitted with an electronic bracelet after having paid a $1 million bail (about €930,000).
The 64-year-old ‘codfather’ is being charged with 27 counts, including conspiracy and false reporting.
According to the prosecution, the Açorean immigrant lied for years about the quantities and species of fish caught by his fleet so that he could circumvent fishing quotas. Rafael later would sell these fish for "bags of money" to a New York wholesaler.
According to the prosecution, the businessman used false compartments in his trucks to transport the illegally caught fish and used false labels to avoid quotas.
The investigation, which involved the US Treasury, the Coast Guard investigation services and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organisation, began after Rafael put his business up for sale last year, looking forward to a long and luxurious retirement.
When two undercover cops posed as potential buyers, Rafael rather foolishly explained his ‘under the counter’ operation.
In January, Rafael and his accountant explained the step-by-step way that they fiddled the system, during a meeting with the false buyers.
Rafael said he had earned $668,000 and investigators believe part of this money was shipped to Portugal via Boston airport.
