Ethan Blue Bird, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, South Dakota 2022

Piercing Crime in South Dakota: Mission Man Charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

Ethan Blue Bird, a 33-year-old man from Mission, South Dakota, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, a serious charge that carries severe penalties.

The indictment alleges that on August 24, 2022, in Todd County, South Dakota, Blue Bird knowingly possessed a firearm while being an unlawful user of controlled substances, a grave mistake that could have devastating consequences.

According to the indictment, Blue Bird was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial, a move that suggests the prosecution is taking this case seriously. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson is prosecuting the case, which is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.

The investigation is being conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, two agencies that take gun violence very seriously.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered, a harsh reality that Blue Bird may face if found guilty. The charge is merely an accusation, and Blue Bird is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

In a statement, the U.S. Attorney’s office emphasized the importance of keeping communities safe from gun violence, a goal that Project Safe Neighborhoods aims to achieve through focused and strategic enforcement priorities and community-based programs.

Ethan Blue Bird, 33, of Mission, South Dakota, is the defendant in this case. The exact criminal charges are Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The city and state involved are Mission, South Dakota. The exact date of the crime is August 24, 2022. Blue Bird was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

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