A Porterville man has pleaded guilty in federal court for manufacturing a claymore mine.
Joseph Marcus Silva, 28, also pleaded guilty to possessing an unregistered silencer.
The big picture: Silva made three destructive devices that were designed for use as a weapon.
- He used a 3D-printer to make two of them, one of which was similar to a military claymore mine with flash powder. The mine read “FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY” on it.
- The other 3D-printed device was a military-type M67 grenade.
- Silva also made a third device using a glass tube with flash powder, BB’s and a fuse, along with being in possession of a silencer that was not registered to him.
What we’re watching: Silva, who was already ordered detained for trafficking in firearms and drugs, is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 21, 2025.
- He faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the four charges.
