RAPID CITY, SD – Antonino Alvarez-Resendiz, 36, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm while already under indictment. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down a three-year sentence, followed by two years of supervised release, on October 19, 2023.
The case originated in December 2021 when Rapid City police encountered Alvarez-Resendiz, who was already facing felony charges in state court. A search revealed a Beretta .40 caliber Smith & Wesson in his possession. Investigators also discovered more than 50 grams of methamphetamine on his person, painting a picture of a man deeply involved in criminal activity.
Alvarez-Resendiz was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in January 2022 on charges of Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, alongside the firearm charge. He held out for over a year, but ultimately pleaded guilty on July 14, 2023, likely hoping for leniency. That didn’t materialize.
Federal authorities are framing the sentence as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a collaborative effort between various law enforcement agencies aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, focusing on building community trust, supporting local organizations, and strategically targeting enforcement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rapid City Police Department jointly investigated the case, demonstrating the importance of interagency cooperation in tackling crime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson successfully prosecuted Alvarez-Resendiz, securing the conviction and subsequent sentence.
Following the sentencing, Alvarez-Resendiz was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service. He’ll also be required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. This case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while facing other criminal charges carries serious federal consequences, and that law enforcement is actively working to keep illegal weapons off the streets.
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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