Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Joseph Marcus Silva, a 28-year-old resident of Porterville, received a federal prison sentence of five years and 11 months. U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston handed down the sentence for Silva's role in manufacturing three destructive devices and possessing an unregistered silencer, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court records detail Silva's affiliation with the Norteño gang subset Varrio Central Poros. Despite a felony conviction, Silva manufactured several explosive devices. Among these, two were 3D-printed: one mimicked a military claymore mine inscribed with "FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY," while the other resembled an M67 grenade. A third device consisted of a glass tube loaded with flash powder, BBs, and a fuse. Additionally, Silva admitted to possessing an unregistered silencer previously used, along with other firearms, including six 3D-printed frames.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with the help of the Tulare County Agency Regional Gun Violence Enforcement Team, the California Department of Justice, the Porterville Police Department, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen A. Escobar prosecuted the case.
The prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This initiative aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by bringing together various law enforcement agencies and local communities. Since May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice has been working to enhance PSN through community trust-building, strategic enforcement priorities, and community organization support.
