FRESNO— On October 7, 2024, Joseph Marcus Silva, 28, of Porterville, pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered silencer and manufacturing three destructive devices.

According to court documents, Silva manufactured three destructive devices, all of which were designed to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive and were designed for use as a weapon. Silva used a 3D-printer to make two of the destructive devices. One of the destructive devices was similar to a military claymore mine with flash powder that read, “FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY.” A military Claymore mine is a directional fragmentation, antipersonnel mine that will incapacitate, injure, or kill one or more persons. The second 3D‑printed destructive device was a military-type M67 grenade. Silva also made a destructive device using a glass tube with flash powder, BB’s, and a fuse and was in possession of a silencer that was not registered to him.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Tulare County Agency Regional Gun Violence Enforcement Team of the California Department of Justice and the Porterville Police Department.

“Agents and officers working together help to make our communities safer places to live,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.  “We are thankful for the work our law enforcement officers do in California to help keep all of us safe from harm.”

Silva was previously ordered detained based on evidence of trafficking in firearms and drugs. He is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 21, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston. Silva faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the four charges. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.