Ex-sheriff’s captain avoids jail in illegal fishing scheme

BOSTON – A former Massachusetts sheriff’s office captain convicted of helping the fishing magnate known as the “Codfather” smuggle the proceeds of his illegal fishing schemes to Portugal has avoided prison time.

Federal prosecutors say 46-year-old Jamie Melo, of Dartmouth, was sentenced Monday to a year of probation, the first eight months to be served in home confinement.

Melo, who worked for the Bristol County sheriff, was convicted in June of conspiracy to commit offences against the United States and structuring the export of monetary instruments.

Prosecutors say Melo asked travel companies to carry envelopes of cash totalling $76,000 on a flight from Boston to the Azores for fishing magnate Carlos Rafael.

Rafael was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for evading fishing quotas and smuggling his profits overseas.