⏱ 2 min read
Kyle Ashton Carpenter, a 26-year-old Watertown, South Dakota man, was found in possession of a handgun in early May 2025, despite being prohibited from owning firearms due to a prior felony conviction for assaulting a law enforcement officer. The incident led to his arrest and subsequent indictment by a federal grand jury in August 2025. Carpenter pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025, and was sentenced on May 18, 2026.
Carpenter’s prior conviction should have kept him from owning a gun, but he purchased a handgun and even used it at a firing range. The handgun was seized and will be forfeited. His actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of his community.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri. The sentence includes 12 months in custody, which Carpenter has already served since his arrest, as well as three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The prosecution of Carpenter is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and protecting communities from perpetrators. The operation streamlines efforts and resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Weapons
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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