Elias Miguel Nava, Unregistered Silencer Possession, Montana 2023

BILLINGS, MT – Elias Miguel Nava, 19, of Billings, Montana, is headed to federal prison after admitting to possessing an unregistered silencer connected to a shooting incident at a local bar. Nava was sentenced today to one year and one day behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters.

The case stems from an October 16, 2022, incident at Bullwhackers Bar where a silencer was recovered following a reported shooting. Just a week later, on October 23, 2022, Billings Police Department officers responded to another shooting at the Wild West Bar. This time, the suspect was Nava, who was found with a .22-caliber pistol and additional firearms.

Federal prosecutors presented evidence linking the pistol found on Nava and a co-defendant to the silencer recovered at Bullwhackers. Disturbingly, social media posts – photos and videos – clearly showed Nava and his accomplice possessing the pistol with the silencer attached, solidifying the connection between the two crime scenes and Nava’s illegal possession.

Nava pleaded guilty in June to possession of an unregistered silencer, a clear violation of federal law. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas K. Godfrey led the prosecution, building a case based on forensic evidence and damning social media content. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Billings Police Department jointly investigated the matter, bringing the case to the attention of federal authorities.

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich framed the sentencing as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broad initiative aimed at curbing violent crime and gun violence across the country. The program focuses on fostering trust between law enforcement and communities, supporting violence prevention programs, and strategically prioritizing enforcement efforts.

While a year in prison is the immediate consequence, the case highlights the ATF’s ongoing efforts to crack down on illegal firearm modifications and those who possess them. The investigation suggests a pattern of reckless behavior by Nava, bringing danger to Billings’ bar scene and ultimately landing him in federal court. The full extent of the co-defendant’s involvement remains unclear at this time.

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