I received a cease & desists letter for a non compete agreement from my previous employer.

I'm not sure whether you're asking whether you are saying that your former employer copied your boyfriend on the letter, or demanded that your boyfriend cease and desist certain activities as well, but either way I see nothing illegal about it.  If your former employer sent a letter to a current or prospective employer wrongfully claiming that you (or your boyfriend) had a valid non-compete, and that caused you (or your boyfriend) to lose the job, that might constitute a tort, but just sending such a letter to you is not (absent other circumstances you haven't mentioned in your question) illegal that I can see.