Framingham Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Unlicensed Money Transmission Business

BOSTON – A Framingham man pleaded guilty today to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.

Luiz DaSilva, 69, pleaded guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business before U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, who scheduled sentencing for April 4, 2024. DaSilva was arrested and charged in December 2022. 

From in or about October 2018 through in or about October 2020, DaSilva failed to comply with 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.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; 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 the Criminal Division is prosecuting the case.