SIOUX FALLS, SD – Lucas Ewald Ahrendt, 32, of Sioux Falls, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced for illegally possessing a firearm while already facing felony charges in a separate case. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down a two-year and three-month sentence on April 16, 2024, followed by three years of supervised release. The conviction stems from a disturbing incident nearly a year and a half ago.
According to court documents, on the evening of December 26, 2022, a concerned citizen reported seeing Ahrendt waving a handgun around while smoking marijuana in the passenger seat of a truck in the West 57th Street area of Sioux Falls. Law enforcement responded and discovered a loaded Glock handgun, complete with a round chambered, within reach of Ahrendt. The search also turned up marijuana and fentanyl inside the vehicle, adding to the severity of the situation.
Crucially, Ahrendt was already under indictment in Moody County, South Dakota, for Possession of a Controlled Substance at the time he received the firearm, making him a prohibited person under federal law. A federal grand jury indicted him in August 2023 on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Illegal Receipt of a Firearm by a Person Under Indictment. He ultimately pleaded guilty to the latter charge on January 26, 2024.
The investigation was a joint effort between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Sioux Falls Police Department, highlighting the collaborative approach to tackling gun violence in the region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and subsequent sentencing. Ahrendt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
This case is being touted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative, a program aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence through coordinated law enforcement efforts and community engagement. The PSN program emphasizes building trust with communities, supporting local organizations, and strategically prioritizing enforcement efforts.
In addition to his prison sentence, Ahrendt is also required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. While this offers a small measure of restitution, it does little to address the reckless endangerment Ahrendt displayed by brandishing a loaded weapon while already facing criminal charges. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by illegal firearm possession and the commitment of federal agencies to prosecute such offenses.
Related Federal Cases
- Travene Tyrone Myers, Firearm Possession, Sioux Falls SD, 2024 · South Dakota
- Richard Paul Olson, Firearm Possession, Sioux Falls SD, 2023 · South Dakota
- Robert Wolfe Jr. Packed Firearm, Sioux Falls SD, 2023 · South Dakota
- Robert Wolfe Jr., Possession of Illegal Firearm, SD, 2026 · South Dakota
- Jacob Bryan, Illegal Firearm Possession, SD 2018 · South Dakota
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