JEFFERSON CITY - A Fulton man was sentenced in federal court Nov. 16 for illegally manufacturing a firearm suppressor (silencer) and illegally possessing firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition after making threats toward state workers involved in the case in which he lost custody of his children.
Nathaniel Craig Carroll, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
Carroll pleaded guilty July 17 to illegally making a firearm, possessing an illegally made firearm and being a drug user in possession of firearms.
According to court documents, Carroll had repeatedly communicated threats, directly and indirectly, to state children's division employees involved in a case where Carroll's children were taken from the home. Law enforcement officers had also received reports of explosions at Carroll's residence; Carroll was believed to be igniting "tannerite" to create the explosions. On Oct. 24, 2017, a judge in Callaway County determined the case was going to move toward the permanent removal of the children from Carroll's custody, which upset him a great deal. Carroll's statements and conduct in the aftermath of the hearing resulted in the evacuation and two-day closure of all Missouri Department of Social Services offices in Callaway County, including the Children's Division.
Immediately after the Oct. 24, 2017, court hearing, Carroll was seen at the Westlake Ace Hardware store. A Callaway County sheriff's deputy was concerned Carroll was intent on hurting himself because of what had happened at the hearing earlier, and therefore followed up with employees at the hardware store to determine what Carroll was purchasing.
Carroll purchased several items that could be used to manufacture a suppressor. Carroll made a statement to the store clerk about needing items to build a suppressor. Carroll does not have a federal license to manufacture a suppressor.
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Carroll's residence on Oct. 25, 2017. Officers seized two homemade silencers, 13 firearms (including two assault rifles that had been spray-painted in black paint, a JC Higgins .22-caliber rifle bearing no serial number and retrofitted for a homemade suppressor, and several other weapons bearing no serial numbers), thousands of rounds of ammunition and substantial user quantities of marijuana.
Officers searched the Carroll family's Honda Odyssey and found Adolph Hitler fliers that stated the following: "Our Furher reminds US, National Socialism Depends on the loyalty of the people and the indoctrination of youth, All Citizens Report, Nonconforming Parents To Their, Children's Division, From the National Socialist American Worker's Party."
This case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Callaway County Sheriff's Department, the Mustang Drug Task Force and the Missouri Highway Patrol.
"Callaway County Sheriff's Office Investigator Bettina Korte-Sweede was nominated for law officer of the year for her excellent work investigating this case locally and then providing an abundant amount of assistance to federal agents in efforts to have this case prosecuted federally," Callaway County Sheriff Clay Chism added.