A high-ranking member of the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office in Massachusetts has been charged with helping a notorious commercial fishing business owner launder money in Portugal.
Jamie Melo, a 45-year-old Captain with the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested and charged with one count each of bulk cash smuggling, structuring, and conspiracy. He was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond following his appearance in federal court in Boston.
The charges stem from a 2015 investigation into Carlos Rafael, the owner of one of the largest commercial fishing businesses in the U.S. Rafael allegedly hid the cash proceeds of his illegal fishing sales by smuggling the money to Portugal, using the services of others, including Melo.
On November 10, 2015, agents conducting surveillance at Logan Airport saw Melo and Rafael arrive in a white car, marked as belonging to the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, for a flight to Portugal. Melo completed TSA screening without incident, but Rafael was found in possession of $27,000, for which he completed a financial affidavit.
Several other acquaintances of Rafael and Melo were also on the flight, allegedly coordinated by Melo, and helped Rafael smuggle an additional $50,000 in cash to Portugal. It is further alleged that before the flight, Melo distributed envelopes of cash to these acquaintances, each of whom took an envelope on the flight and returned it to Melo or Rafael after landing in Portugal.
On November 13, 2015, Portuguese bank records indicate that $76,000 in U.S. currency was deposited into a Banif Bank account in Rafael’s name.
The charge of conspiracy provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of bulk cash smuggling provides for a sentence of no greater than five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. The charge of structuring carries a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000.
Jamie Melo, 45, of North Dartmouth, Mass.
Defendant: Jamie Melo
Criminal Charges: Bulk cash smuggling, structuring, and conspiracy
City and State: Boston, Massachusetts
Exact Date: November 10, 2015
Sentence or Outcome: Released on $10,000 unsecured bond
Dollar Amounts: $27,000, $50,000, $76,000
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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