CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) - A commercial fisherman from New York has pleaded guilty to selling tons more fish than is legally allowed.
Federal prosecutors on Long Island recommended Friday that Anthony Joseph serve up to 33 months under a plea deal. He faces up to 20 years for each of the four fraud counts at his October sentencing.
Newsday reported (https://bit.ly/1exqzBR) the 50-year-old Joseph fished around 310,000 pounds of fluke over the legal limit. That’s worth more than $600,000. The newspaper said Joseph must pay that amount back under the plea deal. He also faces up to $1 million in fines.
Prosecutors accused Joseph of conspiring with a pair of fish dealers and falsifying reports to hide the scheme from federal regulators.
His lawyer told the paper it was an emotional day for Joseph.
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Information from: Newsday, https://www.newsday.com
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