Sioux Falls Carjacker Gets Nearly a Decade

SIOUX FALLS, SD – A brazen attempt to steal a vehicle on the streets of Sioux Falls landed Shawn Michael Long, 31, nearly ten years behind bars. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the 116-month sentence on November 30, 2021, following Long’s conviction for carjacking.

According to court documents, the failed carjacking unfolded between January 15 and 16, 2021. Long, alongside an accomplice, targeted a Honda Accord and its occupants. The situation quickly escalated when Long brandished a firearm, threatening the victim and two friends inside the vehicle. While Long held the occupants at gunpoint, his accomplice attempted to grab the car keys and take control of the Accord.

The scheme hit a snag when the vehicle’s gear lock engaged, preventing the accomplice from shifting the car into drive. Witnesses began to gather, prompting Long and his accomplice to abandon the attempt and flee the scene empty-handed. Despite the failure to steal the vehicle, the act constituted a violent carjacking, triggering a federal investigation.

A federal grand jury indicted Long on April 6, 2021, on charges including firearms offenses, failing to appear in court, and the carjacking itself. He ultimately pleaded guilty to the carjacking charge on August 23, 2021. Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced the sentencing, emphasizing the seriousness of the crime.

In addition to the 116-month prison sentence, Long will serve three years of supervised release following his incarceration. He was also ordered to forfeit the firearm used during the commission of the crime and pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuting the case.

Long was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence. This case serves as a stark reminder that violent crime will not be tolerated in South Dakota, and those who resort to such tactics will face the full force of federal law.