Lake Andes Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Firearm Possession

Michael Shane Thompson, 45, of Lake Andes, South Dakota, admitted in federal court to illegally possessing firearms, a crime that carries up to 10 years behind bars. On December 15, 2016, Thompson stood before U.S. District Court Judge Karen E. Schreier and entered a guilty plea to an Indictment charging him with being a Felon in Possession of Firearms.

The case traces back to February 11, 2016, when Yankton Sioux Tribe law enforcement responded to a call at Thompson’s residence. During the ensuing search, officers uncovered multiple firearms. Evidence confirmed Thompson knew about the weapons and had control over them—despite being legally barred from owning or handling guns due to a prior felony conviction.

Under federal law, felons are strictly prohibited from possessing firearms. Violators like Thompson face stiff penalties: a maximum of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and up to 3 years of supervised release following any sentence. The charges underscore the federal government’s aggressive enforcement of gun laws in Indian Country and high-crime zones.

The investigation was a joint operation involving the Yankton Sioux Tribal Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The collaboration highlights the multi-agency efforts often required to prosecute weapons violations on tribal lands where jurisdictional boundaries are complex.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer D. Mammenga and Jeremy R. Jehangiri are handling the prosecution. A presentence investigation has been ordered to determine sentencing factors, with a final hearing scheduled for March 6, 2017. Until then, Thompson remains free on bond, a decision that may draw scrutiny from victims’ advocates and law enforcement alike.

The case lays bare the ongoing struggle to control illegal firearms in rural and tribal communities. For Thompson, the consequences are closing in—one court date away from a decade in federal prison.