An Everett man has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for allegedly trafficking firearms. Joao Victor Da Silva Soares, 21, faces charges of dealing firearms without a license and conspiracy to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license. He is scheduled to be arraigned on July 30, 2025.
The indictment follows previous charges filed against Da Silva Soares in January 2025. The charging documents allege that between August and September 2024, he supplied firearms for sale in Eastern Massachusetts. Specifically, on August 26, 2024, he reportedly delivered two AM-15 rifles and sold them for $6,000 in Malden. Another alleged transaction took place on September 11, 2024, involving five firearms outside a residence in Milford.
If convicted, the charges carry potential sentences of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the indictment along with Bryan DiGirolamo from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations; and Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and local police departments in Malden and Milford. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds is prosecuting the case.
The allegations remain unproven until established beyond reasonable doubt in court.
