Federal investigators offered leniency and immunity deals to commercial fishermen in exchange for evidence that could be used in building a winning case against the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction, according to the recollections of multiple fishermen.
In the process, the investigators also reportedly bad-mouthed the auction, accusing it of overcharging the boats and encouraging fishermen to take their business elsewhere — after giving it up for prosecution.
"They were trying to get me to rat out the auction," said one of the fishermen who was brought in for questioning.
The suggestions or offers of deals were made informally during interviews conducted during 2007-08 in the aftermath of a rare and high-profile failure by the combined investigators and litigators of National Marine Fisheries Service to prosecute the auction.