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China Auto-Fire Part Package Points to Illegal Silencers

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The U.S. Court of Appeals upheld suspending 2020 RI mail vote witnesses on Aug. 7.
The US District Courthouse in Providence, RI.
The US District Courthouse in Providence, RI. On June 14, Customs agents intercepted a package with an auto-fire part for an AR-15, leading to a Johnston man’s arrest.

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s U.S. Attorney has filed federal charges against a Johnston man after a Homeland Security, ATF, and Johnston Police team found unregistered silencers at his home and a firearm full auto-fire part mailed to him.

Alessio Dandrea, 27, of Johnston,  has been charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with possession of an unregistered firearm silencer and unlicensed importation/transportation of a machine gun from foreign commerce, United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced today.

U.S. Customs inspection leads to search warrant

A court-authorized search of Dandrea’s home on Thursday by agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, and the Johnston Police Department resulted in the seizure of a total of 27 firearms, a mix of handguns, shotguns, and rifles; and two firearm silencers, one of which was attached to a rifle.  An investigation into Dandrea revealed that the two silencers were not registered to him, rendering their possession illegal under federal law.

According to charging documents, on June 14, U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted a parcel shipped from China addressed to Dandrea that, upon inspection, was found to contain a full auto-fire part for an AR-15, a “lightning link” auto sear.  The seized lightning is classified as a machine gun by the ATF and is designed to modify the semi-automatic function/capability of an AR-15, rendering it capable of firing as an automatic weapon.  The possession or transfer of an unregistered drop-in auto sear is prohibited by the National Firearms Act.

A court-authorized search of Dandrea’s home on Thursday by agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations, ATF, and the Johnston Police Department resulted in the seizure of a total of 27 firearms, a mix of handguns, shotguns, and rifles; and two firearm silencers, one of which was attached to a rifle.  An investigation into Dandrea revealed that the two silencers were not registered to him, rendering their possession illegal under federal law.

 Dandrea is scheduled to make an initial appearance before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan today at 2 p.m.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman.

Cunha thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the United States Postal Inspection Service for their assistance in the investigation.

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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