Ethan Blue Bird, Firearm Possession, South Dakota 2022

PIERRE, SD – Ethan Blue Bird, 33, of Mission, South Dakota, is facing a decade in federal prison after being indicted on a charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The feds allege Blue Bird was packing heat while actively using illegal drugs, a combination that landed him in hot water with both the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.

According to the indictment, the alleged offense occurred on August 24, 2022, in Todd County. Federal prosecutors claim Blue Bird knowingly possessed a firearm despite being an unlawful user of controlled substances. The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years behind bars, along with a potential $250,000 fine. If convicted, Blue Bird will also face up to three years of supervised release and a $100 contribution to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, with the possibility of restitution ordered by the court.

Blue Bird appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on November 16, 2022, and entered a plea of not guilty. He’s currently being held by the U.S. Marshals Service, awaiting a trial date that has yet to be determined. The investigation was a joint effort between the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the ATF, highlighting increased cooperation between tribal and federal agencies.

U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell framed the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN),” a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the nation. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of PSN in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, preventative measures, strategic enforcement, and measurable results – buzzwords that often accompany these federal pushes, but offer little comfort to communities already grappling with violence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is leading the prosecution, and will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Blue Bird knowingly possessed the firearm while illegally using controlled substances. The indictment, however, is merely an accusation, and Blue Bird is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves through the federal court system.

The ATF’s involvement underscores the agency’s continued focus on firearms-related offenses, particularly those involving individuals legally prohibited from possessing weapons. While PSN touts community engagement, the heavy reliance on federal prosecution suggests a predominantly enforcement-driven approach to tackling gun violence in South Dakota. This case, like many others, will likely test the limits of federal jurisdiction and the effectiveness of these crime reduction strategies.

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