Department of Justice

BOSTON – A Brockton man was charged today in federal court in Boston on firearm and drug offenses.

Nelsy Dasilva, 23, was indicted on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of distribution of cocaine and fentanyl. Dasilva was arrested on Nov. 14, 2018, and has been in state custody since. He will be arraigned in federal court later this week.

 

On Nov. 14, 2018, after an investigation into drug distribution in and around Brockton, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Dasilva’s apartment. Dasilva was found in possession of approximately 20 grams of cocaine, two grams of fentanyl, a .380 caliber Jimenez Arms Inc., T-380 semi-automatic handgun, and 10 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition. Dasilva has a prior felony conviction for assault with the intent to murder, as well as convictions for possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, criminal possession of a loaded firearm, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

 

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of distribution of a controlled substance provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Kelly Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Brockton Police Chief John Crowley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

 

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

 

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.