Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Fulton, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with illegally manufacturing a firearm suppressor, or “silencer,” following his arrest for harassing a state worker involved with him losing custody of his children.

Nathaniel Craig Carroll, 37, of Fulton, was charged in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo., with illegally manufacturing a firearm suppressor. Carroll, who will have an initial court appearance at 1:30 p.m. today, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017.

According to an affidavit filed in support of today’s federal criminal complaint, Carroll manufactured a suppressor (or “silencer”) following his recent arrest for harassing a state children’s division employee who is involved in a case where Carroll’s children were taken from the home.

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, a judge in Callaway County determined that the case was going to move toward the permanent removal of the children from Carroll’s custody, which upset him a great deal. Immediately after the court hearing, the affidavit says, Carroll was seen at the Westlake Ace Hardware store. A Calloway County sheriff’s deputy was concerned that Carroll was intent on hurting himself because of what had happened at the hearing earlier, and therefore followed up with employees at the hardware store to determine what Carroll was purchasing.

According to the affidavit, Carroll purchased several items that could be used to manufacture a suppressor. Carroll allegedly made a statement to the store clerk about needing items to build a suppressor. Carroll does not have a federal license to manufacture a suppressor.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Carroll’s residence at approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. They found the suppressor on a shelf in the garage next to a baggie of suspected marijuana. Another suspected suppressor was found in a gun safe in the residence along with a rifle that was threaded to fit the suppressor that was next to it in the safe. This suspected suppressor appears to have been made from oil filters covered in an adhesive tape, a common method used for homemade “silencers.”  Items were also found in the garage that were consistent with parts used to build suppressors.

In addition to the suppressors, officers found 13 firearms inside the residence as well as over 1,000 rounds of assorted ammunition.

Larson cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Callaway County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the MUSTANG Drug Task Force and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/wdmo

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