Pierre Felon Schmidt Sentenced for Illegal Firearm Possession

United States Attorney Ron Parsons dropped the hammer on Michael Schmidt, a 44-year-old from Pierre, South Dakota, yesterday (May 28, 2019), sentencing him for the heinous crime of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Schmidt, who had already been indicted by a federal grand jury on June 12, 2018, finally admitted guilt on March 5, 2019. His comeuppance was handed down by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange, with Schmidt being sentenced to time served, two years of supervised release, and a fine of $200.

But the story doesn’t end there. The saga began on January 31, 2018, when a Forest Protection Officer stumbled upon Schmidt’s vehicle parked off a designated road. What followed was an admission that would set the wheels of justice in motion. Schmidt confessed that there were firearms in his car, and he admitted to being a felon whose rights had not been restored.

The seized firearms were both functional and had traversed interstate and/or foreign commerce, making the case even more serious. An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Lyman County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Forest Service soon followed, leading to Schmidt’s conviction.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley was at the helm, prosecuting this case with unwavering determination. And let us not forget the Federal Crime Victims Fund, which was assessed a special $100 fine courtesy of Schmidt.

This sentencing is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime by bringing law enforcement and communities together. The Department of Justice reinvigorated this program in 2017, with the Pierre case serving as a stark reminder that there will be no tolerance for felons who dare to possess firearms.