Aberdeen Man, Juan Smith, Faces Decade in Gun Case

ABERDEEN, SD – Juan Shaw Smith, 28, of Aberdeen, South Dakota, is facing serious federal charges after being indicted by a grand jury on August 11, 2020. Smith stands accused of being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person – crimes that carry a hefty potential sentence.

According to court documents, the feds allege that on March 26, 2020, Smith knowingly possessed a firearm despite a prior conviction for a crime punishable by more than a year in prison. The indictment further claims he knew he was an unlawful user of a controlled substance at the time. The firearm in question had traveled across state lines, triggering federal jurisdiction.

Smith appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 28, 2020, entering a plea of not guilty. If convicted, he’s looking at up to 10 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a mandatory $100 contribution to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution could also be ordered by the court.

This isn’t a standalone case, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. It’s part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide initiative aiming to reduce violent crime by bolstering cooperation between all levels of law enforcement and local communities. Revamped in 2017, PSN focuses on targeting the most dangerous criminals.

Furthermore, the prosecution is falling under the umbrella of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s program designed to aggressively tackle gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. This initiative prioritizes information sharing and coordinated investigations between federal, state, and local agencies, particularly when prohibited individuals attempt to illegally purchase firearms. You can find more information on Project Guardian here: https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Brown County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Elmore is handling the prosecution. Smith remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service while awaiting a trial date, which has not yet been scheduled. Remember, these are just accusations, and Smith is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.