Complex sentence: He avoids direct involvement in crime as much as possible in order to preserve his somewhat shady reputation, but he still occasionally finds himself involved in criminal enterprises, often aided by Reeves Minot, a small-time fence.
Split into simpler sentences: He avoids direct involvement in crime as much as possible in order to preserve his somewhat shady reputation. He still finds himself involved in criminal enterprises, however, often aided by Reeves Minot, a small-time fence.