Man Admits To Possession Of Stolen Firearms Silencers

HARTFORD — A Florida man has waived his right to indictment and has pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a stolen firearm stemming from his possession of stolen firearms silencers, according to a statement from the US Attorney for Connecticut.

The case has a link to a Newtown residence, according to David B. Fein, US Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Fein said that Richard Sleeva, 48, of Naples, Fla., pleaded guilty to the charge on September 22, before US District Judge Alvin W. Thompson in Hartford.

According to court documents and to statements made in court, Sleeva was a federal firearms licensee and had obtained silencers as a member of Gemtech’s board of directors prior to his removal from the board in 2001.

Gemtech is an Idaho firm that is in the business of designing, testing, manufacturing, servicing, and selling silencers for firearms.

When he was removed from the board, Sleeva failed to return the silencers after Gemtech repeatedly demanded that he do so, according to Fein.

Gemtech then reported the firearms as stolen. In pleading guilty, Sleeva admitted that, from 2001 through September 2009, he unlawfully possessed three Gemtech firearms silencers at a former residence in Pennsylvania.

As part of the guilty plea, Sleeva has agreed to forfeit more than 100 firearms that he owned and possessed at residences in Pennsylvania and Newtown.

The firearms, which Sleeva voluntarily turned over to US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) agents in 2009, include more than 40 firearms silencers, more than 40 short-barreled shotguns, as well as several machine guns, semiautomatic handguns, and semiautomatic rifles, according to Fein.

Judge Thompson has scheduled Sleeva’s sentencing for December 9, when Sleeva will face a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years and a fine of up to $250,000. Sleeva is free on bail pending sentencing.

The case was investigated by BATFE agents, with assistance by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Homeland Security.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Robert M. Spector.