⏱ 2 min read
Tevin Thin Elk, a 29-year-old Mission man, was found in a rural area of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation with a semi-automatic shotgun on April 5, 2025. Law enforcement had been called to the area due to reports of multiple gunshots. Thin Elk, who was on supervised release for a prior federal conviction, was intoxicated and had numerous spent shotgun shells and open alcohol containers nearby. He pleaded guilty to Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm on April 27, 2026. Thin Elk’s case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime.
The investigation was led by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case, which was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte on July 27, 2026.
Thin Elk was sentenced to two years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the need to protect the community from individuals who possess firearms illegally.
The case highlights the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies to address violent crime and reduce the illegal possession of firearms. Operation Take Back America aims to streamline efforts and resources to protect communities from perpetrators of violent crime.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Weapons
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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