RAPID CITY, SD – Lucian Celestine, 29, of Rapid City, South Dakota, is facing serious federal charges after allegedly threatening to assassinate the President of the United States. According to federal indictments, Celestine, already prohibited from owning firearms, acquired a Browning bolt-action rifle, scope, and ammunition in late June. The situation escalated with a chilling threat to carry out the attack during the Independence Day celebration at Mount Rushmore.
Prosecutors allege Celestine planned to climb the iconic Mount Rushmore memorial and shoot the President from its summit. The indictment, handed down on August 20th and September 17th, 2020, details the acquisition of the weapon and the subsequent threat. Celestine pleaded not guilty to the firearms charge on September 11th, 2020, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann.
The charges against Celestine carry significant penalties. If convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, three years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered by the court. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman.
This investigation is a collaborative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the Rapid City Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the U.S. Secret Service. The case falls under the umbrella of both Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Project Guardian, initiatives aimed at reducing violent crime and enforcing federal firearms laws. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017, focusing on violent criminals.
Project Guardian, launched in 2019, builds upon previous successful programs and enhances coordination between federal, state, and local authorities to combat gun violence. It emphasizes information sharing regarding denied firearm purchases through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), particularly those flagged for mental health reasons. The DOJ is directing resources towards the most dangerous criminals in our communities, according to officials.
Celestine remains detained pending trial, which is currently scheduled for November 17, 2020. It’s crucial to remember that these are merely accusations, and Celestine is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Ron Parsons, is handling the prosecution. The public can find more information about Project Guardian at https://www.justice.gov/projectguardian.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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