New Bedford fishing kingpin Carlos Rafael and the Bristol County sheriff's deputy indicted as Rafael's co-defendant each are seeking to be tried separately in U.S. District Court in Boston.
Rafael, known widely as "The Codfather" because of his vast New Bedford fishing assets and waterfront holdings, and Antonio M. Freitas, the Bristol County deputy sheriff, are scheduled to stand trial together on Jan. 9.
Attorneys for both men filed separate motions with the court earlier this week to sever the cases. The motions also seeks to have the court try each defendant separately, each claiming the other's statements to law enforcement officials would injure their own cases if tried together.
