Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Fulton, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to a three count indictment that charged him with manufacturing a firearm silencer, in violation of the National Firearms Act, to possession of the illegally made firearm silencer, and to being a drug user in possession of a firearm.

Nathaniel Craig Carroll, 37, of Fulton, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to the charges contained in a November 16, 2017, federal indictment.

By pleading guilty today, Carroll admitted that he manufactured a suppressor (or “silencer”) after his arrest for harassing a state children’s division employee who was involved in a state court proceeding regarding the removal Carroll’s children 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, Carroll was seen at the Westlake Ace Hardware store in Fulton, Missouri.  A Callaway County sheriff’s deputy was concerned that Carroll was intent on hurting himself because of what had happened at the court hearing.  The deputy followed up with employees at the hardware store to determine what Carroll had purchased. 

Carroll purchased several items that he used to manufacture a suppressor.  Carroll 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 appeared 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, over 1,000 rounds of assorted ammunition, and significant user amounts of marijuana.

As a result of today’s guilty pleas, Carroll is subject to a sentence of up to 120 months in federal prison without parole on each of the three counts.  Carroll also consented to the forfeiture of the 13 firearms and firearm silencers.  The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of Carroll will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.  A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

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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