Rapid City Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Gun Possession
RAPID CITY – A local man has been sentenced to federal prison for being in possession of a firearm and ammunition as a prohibited person. Derrick Patton, 42, was sentenced to serve four years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on December 6, 2024.
Patton was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. A federal grand jury indicted Patton in May 2024, and he pleaded guilty on September 16, 2024.
On March 13, 2024, the Rapid City Police Department performed a welfare check on Patton after he was found passed out in a running vehicle for several hours. When officers woke Patton and identified him, they discovered he had a felony arrest warrant and had absconded from parole.
Patton was found in possession of a Ruger 9mm pistol and ammunition, which had been reported stolen out of Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Additionally, he possessed multiple baggies of methamphetamine. As a result of a prior felony conviction, Patton is prohibited from possessing firearms.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The case was investigated by the Rapid City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Knox prosecuted the case. Patton was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
In related news, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy in 2021, strengthening Project Safe Neighborhoods based on four core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
