SIOUX FALLS, SD – Dustin Olson is headed to federal prison for over a decade after a jury found him guilty of both illegally possessing a firearm and peddling methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on February 2, 2023, effectively taking a dangerous individual off the streets of Sioux Falls.
Olson, a convicted felon and admitted drug user, was found to be in possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun and ammunition back in June of 2021. The evidence presented at trial clearly demonstrated he wasn’t just holding onto the weapon for protection – he was also actively involved in distributing methamphetamine, possessing more than five grams of the substance with the clear intent to sell it. This wasn’t a simple possession case; it was a clear and present danger to the community.
The sentencing breaks down to 10 years for the firearm charge – the statutory maximum – and an additional 10 months for the methamphetamine conviction. The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, resulting in a total prison term of 10 years and 10 months. But Olson’s troubles don’t end at the prison gates. He’ll also face four years of supervised release upon completion of his sentence, and is responsible for a $200 payment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The firearm and ammunition used in the crimes have been forfeited.
The case originated with a federal grand jury indictment in June of 2022, following a joint investigation by the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The collaborative effort between local and federal agencies was crucial in building a solid case against Olson, ultimately leading to his conviction after a November 2022 jury trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy R. Jehangiri and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Ebert spearheaded the prosecution, meticulously presenting the evidence that sealed Olson’s fate. The U.S. Marshals Service immediately took Olson into custody following the sentencing, removing him from the public and beginning his decade-plus stint behind bars.
This conviction serves as a stark warning: those who choose to combine illegal firearms with drug trafficking in South Dakota will face the full force of federal law. The ATF’s St. Paul Field Division, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota, remain committed to dismantling criminal networks and keeping communities safe. This wasn’t just about a gun and some drugs; it was about protecting the citizens of Sioux Falls from a repeat offender who clearly had no regard for the law.
Related Federal Cases
- Travis Gene Clark Jr., Felon in Possession of Firearm and Ammunitio… · Wyoming
- Wacey James Long, Possession of Unregistered Firearm, SD 2023 · Kansas
- Matthew Dubray, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, SD … · Iowa
- Lesa Lynn Zafft, Illicit Firearm and Narcotics Sales, SD 2017 · South Dakota
- Dustin Witt, Assault and Child Abuse, SD 2024 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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