Christian Kersten, 30, of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, is facing federal prison time after being indicted on two serious firearm charges stemming from a January 2018 incident. Kersten was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment, returned on February 14, 2018, alleges that Kersten knowingly possessed a firearm that had crossed state lines—despite being barred from doing so due to prior felony convictions, fugitive status, and unlawful drug use. On January 22, 2018, the firearm in question was discovered to have its manufacturer’s serial number deliberately scratched off, a federal offense that escalates the severity of the charge.
Kersten appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 16, 2018, entering a plea of not guilty. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in federal custody and a $500,000 fine. Additional penalties include up to 6 years of supervised release, a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and possible restitution.
Authorities stress that the charges are accusations; Kersten is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence—particularly the defaced serial number—suggests an effort to conceal the weapon’s origins, a hallmark of underground gun trafficking and violent crime enablers.
The investigation was jointly led by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). Their collaboration underscores growing scrutiny on illegal firearms circulating within tribal jurisdictions, where violent crime rates often outpace national averages.
Kersten was remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service following his arraignment. No trial date has been set. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges. The DOJ continues to prioritize illegal firearm cases as part of its broader focus on reducing violent crime in Indian Country.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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