Fish magnate must forfeit four boats, 34 permits

The fishing magnate known as “The Codfather,” who was convicted of evading fishing quotas and smuggling money to Portugal, must forfeit four boats and 34 fishing permits.

A federal judge's order came yesterday in Carlos Rafael's case.

Rafael pleaded guilty to tax evasion and false labeling and fish identification, and was sentenced last month to nearly four years in prison.

Authorities say Rafael falsely claimed his vessels caught haddock or pollock when they had actually caught other species subject to stricter quotas. Rafael sold the fish for cash, some of which was smuggled overseas.

Rafael owns one of the nation's largest commercial fishing operations, with a fleet of vessels and fishing permits and the Carlos Seafood business in New Bedford.