New Bedford, Massachusetts-based fishing magnate Carlos 'Codfather' Rafael is opposing a government proposal to seize his vessels as unconstitutional, and is claiming his crime didn't harm fishermen, court documents show.
Instead of heeding the government's proposal to seize his fleet of 13 groundfish vessels and associated permits, which are reportedly worth more than $30 million, Rafael's lawyers wrote in July that a forfeiture of $2.8m would be within "constitutional bounds".
More recently, it appears that Rafael is trying to sell the vessels outright, and pay the government fine from the proceeds.
Rafael has a buyer lined up for the sale of his stake in 13 groundfish vessels that the US government instead wants forfeited due to their use in criminal activity, court records show.