A Porterville man affiliated with the Norteño gang was sentenced Monday to nearly six years in federal prison for manufacturing explosive devices — including two made with a 3D printer — and possessing an unregistered silencer, officials said.

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Joseph Marcus Silva, 28, was sentenced to five years and 11 months by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.

Federal prosecutors said Silva, a convicted felon and member of the Norteño subset Varrio Central Poros, used a 3D printer to manufacture two destructive devices: one resembling a military-style claymore mine inscribed with the phrase “FRONT TOWARDS ENEMY,” and another similar to an M67 grenade.

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He also created a third device using a glass tube filled with flash powder, BBs, and a fuse.

In addition to the explosives, Silva admitted to possessing an unregistered silencer that had previously been used. Authorities also found nine firearms in his possession, including six orange and gray 3D-printed frames.

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The sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by coordinating efforts across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.

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