MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Jonathan Leigh Wienke, 46, of Martinsburg, was today sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for his illegal manufacturing of firearms.
In December 2016, Wienke pled guilty to violating the National Firearms Act by making a firearm. The act of manufacturing came under scrutiny when the Department of Homeland Security obtained a warrant to search his home on June 9, 2016.
During this raid, officers discovered a pistol equipped with what appeared to be a silencer, later confirmed to meet the federal definition of a firearm. This discovery was particularly striking as the silencer possessed neither a manufacturer’s mark nor serial number – a clear violation of the National Firearms Act, which requires such identification on all firearms.
Investigations revealed that Wienke had indeed manufactured the silencer, but without the proper license or approval as required by federal law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski prosecuted the case, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation.
The court was presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge Gina M. Groh, ensuring a stringent application of justice for Wienke’s actions.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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