BOSTON – A South Portland man working as a Massachusetts fishing boat captain has pleaded guilty to interfering with a U.S. Coast Guard inspection.
Prosecutors say 57-year-old Thomas Simpson pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to destruction or removal of property subject to inspection.
Prosecutors say Simpson, of South Portland, Maine, was the captain of a New Bedford commercial fishing boat in 2014 when he dumped a fishing net into the ocean in defiance of Coast Guard commands to haul it in.
A salvage company later retrieved the net and found it was in violation of commercial fishing regulations.
The vessel was one of several owned by Carlos Rafael, known as “the Codfather,” who was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for violating several fishing regulations.
Simpson faces up to five years in prison at sentencing.
-
Local & StateHallowell council expects to finalize cannabis, snow shoveling, busking ordinances
-
Local & StatePublic invited to workshop Wednesday to help redesign Waterville park
-
The Maine ForecastWintry week ahead with two storms, cold shot in between
-
Maine Crime
Kennebec Journal Nov. 12 police log
-
Life & CultureComic book genius Stan Lee, Spider-Man creator, dies at 95
