Black Hawk Man Sentenced for Gun Possession

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Court Chief Judge Roberto Lange has sentenced Kyle Puckett, 33, of Black Hawk, South Dakota, to three years and five months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

Puckett was indicted for the offense along with Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance. He pleaded guilty on April 5, 2024. The charges stemmed from his arrest in Rapid City with a loaded pistol, cash, multiple magazines, and drug paraphernalia in June 2023.

This sentence is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through community engagement and strategic enforcement priorities. Puckett’s case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Lindrooth prosecuted the case, leading to Puckett being immediately remanded into custody after sentencing. This sentence serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who flout firearm laws, even in South Dakota.

The grim tally of violent crime and gun violence continues to climb, but programs like PSN are steadfast in their mission to make neighborhoods safer for everyone. Puckett’s sentence is a testament to the dedication of law enforcement and the justice system in combating illegal firearms possession.

Puckett has been ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will serve three years of supervised release following his prison term.

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