Joseph Marcus Silva, a 28-year-old resident of Porterville, received a sentence of five years and 11 months in prison. The sentencing, carried out by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith. Silva's conviction stems from manufacturing three destructive devices and possessing an unregistered silencer.
Court documents indicate that Silva is affiliated with the Norteño gang, specifically the Varrio Central Poros subset. An investigation revealed that he used a 3D printer to create two destructive devices. One device resembled a military claymore mine, which said "FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY." The other was similar to a military-type M67 grenade. Silva also crafted a device with a glass tube, flash powder, BBs, and a fuse. Furthermore, Silva admitted to the unlawful possession of an unregistered silencer that had been previously used and was reportedly in possession of nine additional firearms. This included six 3D-printed orange and gray frames.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with support from the Tulare County Agency Regional Gun Violence Enforcement Team of the California Department of Justice, the Porterville Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar.
This incident is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The U.S. Department of Justice, on May 26, 2021, launched a violent crime reduction strategy to strengthen PSN. The strategy is based on core principles including fostering trust, supporting community organizations, setting focused enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.