SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – James Dubray, 20, of Pierre, South Dakota, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm while battling a methamphetamine addiction. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down a three-year and one-month sentence on January 30th, followed by three years of supervised release.
The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Sioux Falls Police Department, stemmed from a September 5, 2022, traffic stop. According to court documents, Dubray fled the scene when officers initiated a legal stop of the vehicle he was in. A subsequent search near an apartment complex, where Dubray was apprehended, revealed he was carrying a firearm magazine and methamphetamine.
A discarded firearm was discovered roughly ten yards from Dubray’s location, directly linked to him after he bolted from the initial traffic stop. Crucially, evidence presented showed Dubray was an active and daily user of methamphetamine at the time of the offense, making him legally prohibited from possessing any firearms. He had consumed the drug earlier that same day.
Federal prosecutors successfully argued that Dubray’s addiction to a controlled substance disqualified him from legally owning a firearm. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2022 and ultimately pleaded guilty on September 27, 2023, to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. He was ordered to pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen led the prosecution, emphasizing the danger posed by individuals illegally armed while struggling with substance abuse. This case is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program designed to reduce violent crime through targeted enforcement and community partnerships.
Dubray has been remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence. The ATF and Sioux Falls PD continue to work in tandem to dismantle illegal firearm trafficking and hold accountable those who endanger the public through reckless behavior. This case serves as a warning: possessing a firearm while addicted to drugs carries significant federal penalties.
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