A former United States Navy weapons instructor, Rocco Joseph Frakes, has admitted to possessing unregistered silencers and a short-barrel rifle. The 50-year-old from Middleburg, Florida, could face up to 10 years in federal prison. The date for sentencing has not been scheduled.
The plea agreement reveals that on July 25, 2024, federal agents conducted a search at Frakes's residence. They discovered a .22 caliber rifle with a threaded barrel, three silencers, a rifle with a 7½ inch barrel, and a .45 caliber machine gun in his bedroom. These items were not registered to Frakes in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by law. Frakes is retired from the U.S. Navy where he served as a weapons instructor for Atlantic Fleet squadrons.
The investigation was carried out by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Elisibeth Adams is prosecuting the case.
This legal action falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. Launched on May 26, 2021, the program focuses on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.