RAPID CITY, SD – A Rapid City man is off the streets and headed to federal prison after a judge handed down a stiff sentence for illegally packing heat. Dustin Bullman, 25, was sentenced February 1, 2023, to three years and one month behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentence was delivered by U.S. Circuit Judge Jonathan A. Kobes.
Federal prosecutors say Bullman, already a convicted felon, was found to be knowingly in possession of an Iberia Firearms Incorporated, model JS40, .40 caliber, semi-automatic pistol back in April 2022. The bust occurred after Bullman had contact with law enforcement in Rapid City, though details of that initial interaction remain scarce. A federal grand jury indicted Bullman in July 2022, and he ultimately pleaded guilty on October 14, 2022.
The case wasn’t a simple possession charge. Bullman’s prior felony conviction automatically disqualifies him from legally owning a firearm. The ATF, alongside the Rapid City Police Department, spearheaded the investigation, painstakingly building a case that led to the conviction. He’ll also be forced to shell out $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund – a pittance compared to the potential damage that weapon could have caused.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell, speaking through a press release, framed the case as a win for “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. PSN, according to the Department of Justice, focuses on fostering trust with communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement. Whether this initiative truly makes a dent in crime rates remains to be seen, but the feds are eager to tout any success.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case, successfully convincing Judge Kobes to impose a sentence beyond the minimum. Bullman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, ending his freedom and beginning his time in the federal system. Sources close to the investigation suggest Bullman has a history of run-ins with the law, making this sentence a long-overdue consequence for his actions.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the effectiveness of PSN in Rapid City. While one gun off the street isn’t a solution to the larger problems plaguing the city, it’s a small step towards holding criminals accountable and keeping the community a little bit safer. The ATF’s St. Paul Field Division oversaw the investigation, demonstrating a continued federal focus on gun crime in the region.
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