HYANNIS – A Hyannis man was charged in federal court yesterday for allegedly purchasing a firearm and silencer on a “Darknet Market” website, which provides anonymity to users to buy and sell illegal goods.
Federal agents say that a Darknet Market website is an online market that operates outside the parameters of the traditional Internet, allowing individuals anonymity to buy and sell illegal items, such as firearms and drugs.
According to federal agents, Justin Moreira, 21, engaged a federal undercover agent in a series of online messages during which Moreira inquired about the potential purchase of several different firearms.
Ultimately, Moreira allegedly ordered a Walther PPK/S .380 caliber pistol and silencer from the agent for which he paid the equivalent of $2,500 in Bitcoins.
Moreira allegedly instructed the agent to ship the package to a US Post Office box in Hyannis.
Federal agents monitoring the post office box immediately arrested Moreira after he retrieved the package yesterday morning.
Moreira faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.
