BOSTON — Judge William Young has ordered "Codfather" Carlos Rafael to forfeit four of his groundfishing vessels as well as 34 permits associated with those vessels.

Rafael plead guilty in March to an extensive groundfishing scheme that saw him falsify fishing records to evade federal quotas, and then smuggle the profits in cash to Portugal. He was sentenced in September to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release, during which time he is not to be engaged in any groundfishing business.

In his Memorandum and Order Concerning Forfeiture announced Wednesday, Young ordered Rafael to forfeit the following vessels and their associated permits: the Bulldog (eight permits), the Olivia and Rafaela (11 permits), the Lady Patricia (four permits) and the Southern Crusader II (11 permits). The total appraised value of the forfeitures is just about $2.26 million.

Judge Young wrote that he "stayed away from the Athena and the Hera II because they have scalloping permits and scalloping is not involved in this wrong doing."

It is not known at this time how Judge Young's decision will affect a proposed deal between the Canastra brothers and Rafael that would see the Canastras purchase Rafael's entire business, Carlos Seafood, Inc., for $93 million. They discussed the proposed deal in a WBSM exclusive last week.

Read Judge Young's entire decision on the forfeitures here:

 

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