February 7, 2020 โ A First Circuit judge voiced concern Thursday with an interrogation of a former sheriffโs department captain convicted of aiding the overseas profit-smuggling activities of New Englandโs notorious fishing magnate โthe Codfather.โ
As noted by Jamie Meloโs attorney Gary Pelletier, the interrogation occurred for four hours in Meloโs home without being a Miranda warning.
Though Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Quinlivan argued that Miranda warnings werenโt required because Melo wasnโt in custody and was free to leave at any time, U.S. Circuit Judge David Barron sounded skeptical.
โI mean, the officers obviously werenโt there just to chat,โ he deadpanned.
Melo was accused of distributing envelopes containing large amounts of cash to associates in the menโs room of Bostonโs Logan Airport before the group went through security. The group, including the Codfather, was traveling to Portugal for a charitable fundraiser called Thanksgiving in the Azores that was sponsored by the sheriffโs department. Once in the Azores, the Codfather allegedly received the envelopes back and then deposited $76,000 in cash in a bank account.
Melo claims he was innocently doing a favor for a prominent local businessman involved in the charity project and had no idea know what was in the envelopes.