Stewart Silvestri, Machinegun Possession, Massachusetts 2022

A Brookline man has been arrested for illegally possessing a machinegun in Massachusetts.

Stewart Silvestri, 24, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of unlawful possession of a machinegun and was detained on November 18, 2022, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Judith G. Dein.

The alleged conduct here is incredibly serious. Mr. Silvestri allegedly possessed eight unserialized and untraceable ghost guns. These dangerous weapons are nearly impossible to trace and directly contribute to the ongoing plague of gun violence we see across the nation and in our Commonwealth. Moreover, two of the firearms Mr. Silvestri allegedly possessed were machineguns capable of causing extreme harm, destruction, and even mass casualties in the blink of an eye.

Firearms, including ghost guns, are deadly weapons and those who illegally possess them are a potential threat to the safety of our neighborhoods. We will identify and prosecute these individuals and seek pre-trial detention whenever possible if it will result in keeping those that pose this type of danger off our streets.

The incident occurred on October 15, 2022, when law enforcement responded to multiple calls for an erratic driver on Route 95 in Rowley, Mass. Upon arriving at the weigh station, law enforcement approached the driver – Silvestri – who stated he had just come from an armory in New Hampshire. When asking for his license and registration, law enforcement observed Silvestri allegedly sitting on what appeared to be firearms.

A subsequent search of the vehicle recovered eight privately made firearms (also known as ghost guns), hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and numerous firearm parts. Two of the firearms were fully automatic pistols, classified as machineguns.

The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Defendant: Stewart Silvestri

Criminal Charges: Unlawful possession of a machinegun

City and State: Brookline, Massachusetts

Date: November 18, 2022

Sentence: Currently detained, awaiting trial

Fine: Up to $250,000

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