Trevor Lee Thayer, Unlawful Possession of Firearms, New Mexico 2012

A Silver City man has pleaded guilty to violating federal firearms laws. Trevor Lee Thayer, 42, admitted to unlawfully possessing a short barreled rifle and unlawfully possessing a silencer.

According to court documents, Thayer was charged with six counts, including unlawful possession of a short barreled rifle, unlawful possession of a silencer, unlawfully manufacturing a silencer, manufacturing marijuana, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and maintaining premises for the purpose of manufacturing marijuana.

The offenses were committed in Grant County, New Mexico, in August 2012. Thayer pleaded guilty to Counts 1 and 2 of the superseding indictment, charging him with unlawful possession of a short barreled rifle and unlawful possession of a silencer.

In his plea agreement, Thayer admitted to committing these offenses on August 15, 2012, in Grant County, New Mexico, by illegally possessing a grey silencer and a weapon that was made from a Ruger, Model 10/22, .22 caliber rifle with a barrel length of less than 16 inches.

At sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled, Thayer faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each of the two charges. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Thayer is required to forfeit seven firearms and more than 2000 rounds of ammunition.

The case was investigated by the Las Cruces offices of the DEA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the New Mexico Motor Transportation Police and the New Mexico State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maria Y. Armijo and Amanda L. Gould of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office are prosecuting the case.

Trevor Lee Thayer, the defendant, is required to forfeit seven firearms and more than 2000 rounds of ammunition. The case is still pending sentencing.

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