United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that Gaylen Paul Sampson, also known as Thurman Paul Sampson, a 41-year-old resident of Eagle Butte, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 30 months in custody for mailing threatening communications and failure to register as a sex offender. The sentence was handed down on October 24, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Sampson’s offenses were not his first brush with the law. In 2003, he was convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and sentenced to 151 months in custody. His criminal behavior continued when, while on supervised release, he began writing increasingly concerning letters to the daughter of a former employer. These letters eventually escalated to death threats against the victim. Sampson’s failure to register his address during a 13-day period after absconding from supervision further compounded his legal woes.
Following his conviction for Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Sampson is required to register as a sex offender for life and update his registration within three business days of any change in employment or relocation. He transitioned from Leavenworth, Kansas, to the Community Alternatives of the Black Hills (CABH) in Rapid City, South Dakota, on March 25, 2013. However, Sampson absconded from the facility and supervision on April 10, only to self-surrender three days later.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller prosecuting it. In addition to his sentence for the two offenses, a special assessment of $100 was imposed in each case to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sampson will be on supervised release for 5 years following his release from custody for failure to register as a sex offender. He has been turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service immediately after sentencing.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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