RAPID CITY, SD – Michael Wilson, 37, of Rapid City, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today for illegally possessing a handgun, the Department of Justice announced. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken handed down a four-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Wilson was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case dates back to February 2020 when Wilson, a convicted felon, was found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm semi-automatic pistol during an encounter with law enforcement in Rapid City. Federal law prohibits anyone with a prior felony conviction from owning or possessing firearms. Wilson’s criminal history made him ineligible, yet he knowingly held the weapon.
A federal grand jury indicted Wilson on the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person in April 2022. He initially pleaded not guilty, but later entered a guilty plea on October 21, 2022, effectively ending the legal maneuvering. The plea likely came as a result of the solid evidence gathered by investigators.
The investigation was a collaborative effort led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with significant assistance from the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson skillfully prosecuted the case, presenting the evidence that secured the conviction.
This sentencing is part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN), a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across the nation. PSN brings together federal, state, and local law enforcement, along with community organizations, to address the root causes of crime and improve public safety. The program focuses on strategic enforcement and building trust within communities.
Following the sentencing hearing, Wilson was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his four-year prison term. His case serves as a stark reminder that those illegally possessing firearms will face serious consequences under federal law, and that the ATF and its partners are actively working to keep weapons out of the hands of convicted criminals.
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