Firearms Trafficker, Drug Dealer Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison

ROANOKE, Va. – A Maryland man who sold seven silencers and 800 counterfeit prescription pills to undercover officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), was sentenced yesterday to 72 months in federal prison.

Milford Thomas Washington, 57, pleaded guilty in January 2023 to transporting an unregistered silencer in interstate commerce.

“The silencers involved in this case are specifically designed to mask violent, criminal behavior, and pose a direct threat to public safety,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “I am thankful to ATF and our local and state partners who worked on this matter for keeping these dangerous items off our streets.”

“The illegal possession of handgun diversion devices and distribution of deadly narcotics are significant threats to our community and remain a top priority for ATF. The leverage of our resources and valuable assets were instrumental throughout this investigation. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the men and women of ATF and our valued law enforcement partners; we were able to remove another violent criminal from our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig Kailimai “We will continue to do our part in combating violent crime through intelligence led strategies.”

According to court documents, between July 2021 and February 2022, Washington sold at least seven silencers to undercover ATF agents. At the time of his arrest in April 2022, Washington was prepared to illegally ship an additional 13 silencers.

The National Firearms Act, in part, makes it unlawful to possess and transfer certain firearms, including silencers, without proper registration. Washington, however, was also prohibited from engaging in the sale of silencers because he had previously been convicted of a felony.

In addition to trafficking silencers, in 2022, Washington sold approximately 800 counterfeit Percocet pills to the ATF. An analysis of some of these pills, which are designed to look like authentic prescription drugs, revealed the presence of fentanyl.

The ATF, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Postal Inspection Service, investigated the case. The Montgomery County (Maryland) Police Department also contributed to the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Coleman Adams prosecuted the case. During the investigation, he received assistance and support from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.