BOSTON – Guilherme Fernandes-Tavares, a 31-year-old Brazilian national unlawfully residing in Marlborough, Massachusetts, is facing serious federal charges after being indicted by a grand jury for allegedly running a clandestine firearms operation. The indictment, unsealed today, details a pattern of illegal gun sales stretching back to December 2023.
Fernandes-Tavares has been indicted on one count of dealing firearms without a license. According to court documents, between December 2023 and May 2024, the suspect allegedly peddled 11 firearms, along with ammunition, across ten separate transactions. He’s scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on July 30, 2025, following an initial criminal complaint filed on March 7, 2025.
The firearms weren’t your run-of-the-mill store-bought pieces. The charging documents reveal a disturbing trend: several of the pistols sold were ‘privately manufactured firearms’ – commonly known as ghost guns – lacking serial numbers, making them untraceable. One weapon had its serial number deliberately obliterated, further obscuring its origin. Adding to the danger, one sale included a large-capacity magazine capable of holding 28 rounds of ammunition.
Federal investigators didn’t stop at the in-person sales. An intercepted package, shipped from Florida and addressed to Fernandes-Tavares, allegedly contained yet another firearm, suggesting a wider network and ongoing supply. This indicates a clear intent to continue the illegal operation, authorities say. The source of these firearms is currently under investigation.
If convicted, Fernandes-Tavares faces a stiff penalty: up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. However, the final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, taking into account U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Leah B. Foley, is prosecuting the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney John Reynolds of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit at the helm.
The investigation was a collaborative effort, involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Westborough Police Department. It’s crucial to remember that the details presented in the charging documents are allegations, and Fernandes-Tavares is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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