SEAL faces prison for unregistered gun silencer
By TIM MCGLONE, The Virginian-Pilot
© December 22, 2001
NORFOLK -- A Navy SEAL was convicted in federal court this week of having an unregistered gun silencer in his home.
Mark Foresman, 39, of Norfolk, a sailor for 22 years, faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced March 21. A jury in U.S. District Court acquitted Foresman on Thursday of related firearms charges after trial.
The case unfolded on July 2, when Foresman's estranged wife called Norfolk police to report that Foresman was in their house in violation of a protective order, according to the U.S. attorney's office.
Police searched the house and arrested Foresman on state charges that day. Officers initially thought they had discovered a pipe bomb in the house and called in agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the U.S. attorney said.
But the oblong-shaped item discovered behind a basement water heater turned out to be the silencer. The silencer had been missing from the Little Creek Amphibious Base since 1995, the U.S. attorney said. Officers also discovered a short-barrel rifle and other firearms.
Federal law requires that short-barreled rifles and silencers be registered.
State charges against Foresman were dismissed when federal charges were filed four days after his arrest. He has been in jail ever since. The Navy will likely take administrative action against Foresman as a result of his conviction, authorities said.
``Federal firearms laws exist to protect citizens from many forms of gun-related violence. Violations of federal firearms laws are severely dealt with in this district,'' said U.S. Attorney Paul J. McNulty.
Foresman's attorney, James Broccoletti, could not be reached for comment.