RAPID CITY, SD – Brandon Tyon, 43, of Rapid City, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced Tuesday for illegally possessing firearms, a conviction stemming from a January 2021 encounter with law enforcement. Judge Jeffrey L. Viken handed down an 18-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Tyon was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Rapid City Police Department, revealed Tyon was found with a cache of weapons while reportedly using methamphetamine. As a previously convicted felon, Tyon was legally prohibited from owning any firearms. The indictment, brought by a federal grand jury in February 2022, detailed the discovery of a Springfield M1A SOCOM 16 semi-automatic rifle, a Raven Arms P25 pistol, a Ruger 10/22 rifle, and a Smith & Wesson M&P Bodyguard 380 pistol.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson successfully prosecuted the case, presenting evidence that clearly demonstrated Tyon’s violation of federal law. Tyon pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person on August 1, 2022, setting the stage for Tuesday’s sentencing. The discovery of the firearms followed contact between Tyon and law enforcement, though details of that initial encounter remain limited.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell emphasized that this prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the nation. The program focuses on fostering trust between law enforcement and communities, supporting preventative organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement efforts. The recent strengthening of PSN, launched in May 2021, underscores the federal commitment to tackling these issues.
Sources close to the investigation tell Grimy Times that Tyon has a history of run-ins with the law, though details are scarce. Court records indicate prior convictions that triggered the firearm prohibition. The ATF is reportedly continuing to investigate potential sources of the weapons and any possible connections to other criminal activity.
Immediately following the sentencing, Tyon was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his 18-month sentence. This case serves as a stark reminder that possessing firearms while prohibited carries significant consequences, and federal agencies are actively working to keep illegal weapons off the streets of Rapid City and beyond. The investigation remains open, and further developments are expected.
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