Framingham Man Arrested for Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business
2022-12-15 · Press release
Summary: BOSTON – A Framingham man was arrested this morning in connection with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
BOSTON – A Framingham man was arrested this morning in connection with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Luiz DaSilva, 68, was indicted on one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. DaSilva will appear in federal court in Boston at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein.
According to the indictment, from in or about October 2018 through in or about October 2020, DaSilva failed to comply with the federal registration requirements for money transmitting businesses in operating his business, Mix Cell Phones, LLC.
The charge of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker made announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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- https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/framingham-man-arrested-operating-unlicensed-money-transmitting-business
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| participant_id | name | role | title | organization | location | age | nationality | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1611 | Luiz DaSilva | defendant | Mix Cell Phones, LLC | Framingham | 68 | indicted | ||
| 1612 | Rachael S. Rollins | prosecutor | United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office | Boston | |||
| 1613 | Brian D. Boyle | prosecutor | Special Agent in Charge | Drug Enforcement Administration | New England | |||
| 1614 | Lester Baker | police chief | Police Chief | Framingham Police Department | Framingham | |||
| 1615 | John T. Mulcahy | prosecutor | Assistant U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office | Boston | |||
| 1616 | Judith G. Dein | judge | U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge | U.S. District Court | Boston |
| agency_id | agency_name | abbreviation | role | office_location | agents_mentioned | contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | United States Attorney's Office | prosecution | Rachael S. Rollins, John T. Mulcahy | Prosecuting the case and announcing the arrest | ||
| 1001 | Drug Enforcement Administration | DEA | announcement | New England Field Division | Brian D. Boyle | Announced the arrest as part of the announcement |
| 1002 | Framingham Police Department | announcement | Lester Baker | Announced the arrest |
| charge_id | charge_description | statute | severity | max_penalty | fine_amount | defendant | status | participant_id | cl_docket_id | count_num | is_1960 | verified_1960 | source | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 791 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business | up to five years in prison | $250,000 | Luiz DaSilva | indicted | 1 | enrichment | 2026-09-16T19:45:56+00:00 | ||||||
| 2736 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:56+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 2737 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of sup | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:56+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 2738 | operating an unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three yea | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:56+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 2739 | unlicensed money transmitting business | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:56+00:00 | ||||||||||
| 2740 | unlicensed money transmitting business provides for a sentence of up to five y | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:56+00:00 |
| fin_id | action_type | amount | currency | description | asset_type | defendant | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 265 | fine | $250,000 | USD | Fine for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business | cash | Luiz DaSilva | pending |
| victim_id | victim_type | description | number_affected | loss_amount | geographic_scope | vulnerability_factors | impact_description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 597 |
| quote_id | quote_text | speaker_name | speaker_title | speaker_organization | quote_type | context | significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 704 | The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. | statement | Legal presumption of innocence | Establishes the legal standard for the defendant's guilt |
| theme_id | theme_name | description | significance | related_statutes | geographic_scope | temporal_aspects | stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 958 | Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business | Luiz DaSilva operated Mix Cell Phones, LLC without complying with federal registration requirements for money transmitting businesses from October 2018 to October 2020. | Forms the basis of the federal indictment and criminal charges against DaSilva. | National | 2018-2020 operational period | Law enforcement, Financial regulators, Defendant | |
| 959 | Federal Registration Requirements | DaSilva's failure to meet federal licensing obligations for money transmitting services led to the charges. | Highlights legal obligations for businesses handling monetary transactions. | National | Federal agencies, Business operators | ||
| 960 | Money Laundering Enforcement | The case is prosecuted by the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, indicating potential ties to illicit financial activity. | Reflects focus on combating financial crimes through specialized prosecution units. | National | U.S. Attorney's Office, DEA | ||
| 961 | Sentencing Guidelines | Potential penalties include up to five years imprisonment, supervised release, and fines under federal sentencing frameworks. | Determines legal consequences if convicted. | National | Federal judges, Defendant | ||
| 962 | Law Enforcement Collaboration | Cooperation between DEA, Framingham Police, and U.S. Attorney's Office in the investigation and prosecution. | Demonstrates multi-agency coordination in financial crime cases. | Local/National | DEA, Local police, Prosecutors |
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