A Brazilian national living unlawfully in Milford, Massachusetts, was charged on May 1 with dealing firearms without a license. Federal prosecutors allege that Caua Da Silva, age 21, sold several firearms—including a so-called ghost gun—to a confidential informant over multiple occasions between November 2025 and April 21, 2026.
The case is significant because it involves the sale of privately manufactured firearms by an individual who authorities say is not lawfully present in the United States. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. If convicted and after serving any sentence imposed by the court under federal sentencing guidelines and statutes, Da Silva would be subject to deportation.
According to charging documents released by the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts—which serves all residents of Massachusetts—the investigation into Da Silva began in July 2025 as part of efforts to address illegal firearm sales. “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement today,” according to officials. Multiple agencies assisted with the investigation including Homeland Security Investigations and local police departments from Milford, Worcester, Marlborough and Hudson.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a federal initiative established through Executive Order 14159—and led jointly by the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security to combat illegal immigration and violent crime. The U.S. Attorney for the District operates out of offices at Boston’s John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse as well as branch offices in Springfield and Worcester according to its official website. The office employs over 200 attorneys and staff across these locations according to its official website.
The U.S. Attorney’s office advances community initiatives on civil rights enforcement alongside violence prevention efforts according to its official website. It prosecutes crimes ranging from national security threats to civil rights violations according to its official website, handling both criminal prosecutions and civil litigation on behalf of the United States government throughout Massachusetts according to its official website.
Officials emphasized that all details contained within charging documents are allegations only; Da Silva is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.