When representing businesses and individuals in complex criminal, civil, and financial litigation, Daniel C. Silva brings the strength of a former federal prosecutor and the insights of an in-house global risk counsel at a financial technology company. Danny advises clients engaged in investigations, regulatory enforcement actions, business disputes, and dealings with receivers, monitors, and whistleblowers. He brings extensive trial, investigation, due diligence, and risk assessment experience.

As the architect and quarterback of hundreds of financial investigations, Danny worked with financial institutions, witnesses, whistleblowers, and in parallel with U.S. and foreign regulators and law enforcement. He offers strategic insights into the prosecutorial and regulatory playbook of leading financial authorities such as the SEC, FinCEN, CFTC, IRS, California Franchise Tax Board, Federal Reserve Board, OCC, FDIC, OFAC, and the Department of Defense.

Danny’s rare skill set makes him an effective, aggressive, and efficient advocate for clients in banking, international financial services, payment processors, and other money services businesses (MSBs).

Authority on Financial Crimes. During his decade at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Danny built a financial crimes task force that targeted international money laundering, all kinds of fraud (wire, securities, tax, and bank), anti-money laundering (“AML”) violations, and asset forfeiture matters.

His success in securing multimillion-dollar penalties and convictions for the world’s most complex financial crimes includes:

• The subsidiary of an international banking conglomerate, in an industry-shifting guilty plea and multi-hundred-million-dollar forfeiture for the bank’s AML violations and fraudulent conduct, while working alongside the OCC, FinCEN, and whistleblowers.
• A multibillion-dollar cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme—recognized as the largest ever prosecuted at the time—involving securities, commodities, and MSB violations that secured a significant forfeiture and restitution for victims, in parallel with the SEC.
• Dozens of MSBs that moved billions of dollars around the world across global networks of agents and digital payment platforms—most prominently throughout Latin America and Asia via casinos and casas de cambio—in parallel with FinCEN, OFAC, Department of Defense, and several gaming regulators.

In addition to a J.D., Danny earned an LL.M. in Taxation and an MBA with a concentration in international business. He followed his tenure at the U.S. Attorney’s Office with an in-house counsel role at the fintech startup Stripe.

Danny regularly speaks and authors articles on international money laundering, including common ways professional “enablers” find themselves targeted by law enforcement. He has been retained as an expert in international financial investigations. Media often seek his perspective during significant criminal, financial, and litigation events. He has designed educational courses at the highest level of academia and law enforcement, including: the Escuela Libre de Derecho, CDMX, Mexico, for a Diploma in Financial Crimes and Money Laundering; and with the Department of Justice, in Ethiopia, Mozambique, and Kuwait.

Recognition of Impact. Danny earned the highest award in the DOJ’s Criminal Division, and twice received an award from the Director of FinCEN, America’s AML regulator.

Recognition and Awards

• Assistant Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award, Department of Justice, 2018
• Director’s Award, FinCEN, 2020 (Significant Fraud Case) and 2015
• Richard C. Pugh Award for career contributions to international tax law, USD School of Law, 2021

Professional Involvement

• Federal Bar Association, Member
• California Lawyers Association, Taxation Section Member
• Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (“ACAMS”), Board Member—San Diego-Baja California Chapter

Thought Leadership Highlights

• Interviewed by global media for insights into criminal prosecutions, financial crimes investigations, and impact on cryptocurrency market, including: Financial Times, BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, CNBC, Decrypt, and Law360.
• Since 2022, Daniel has been a visiting professor at the Escuela Libre de Derecho, CDMX, Mexico, where he leads classes for the Diploma in Financial Crimes and Money Laundering—U.S. criminal, forfeiture, and restitution laws.
• When Daniel was with the Department of Justice, he participated in AML and anti-corruption workshops in Ethiopia and Kuwait. In addition, the Departments of State, Treasury, and Justice selected him to conduct an AML Assessment of Mozambique, where he traveled to assess the nation’s financial system, financial laws and regulations, and AML compliance. He met with leaders of the largest financial institutions, the Central Bank of Mozambique, law enforcement officials, and international non-governmental agencies to prepare a report for the Departments of State and Treasury, which ultimately led to more funding from the U.S.