United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has declared that 30-year-old Andrew Cortes of Rapid City, South Dakota, has been sentenced to two years and three months in federal prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.

Cortes was caught with a pistol during a police pursuit following a traffic stop on December 12, 2024. The defendant had previously been convicted of a felony, making his possession of a firearm under federal law a severe offense.

The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler on August 7, 2025, also includes three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Indicted in February 2025 and pleading guilty on May 23, 2025, Cortes’s conviction is part of Operation Take Back America, a justice department initiative targeting illegal immigration, cartels, transnational criminal organizations, and violent crime.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the matter, leading to Cortes’s immediate remand into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Related Federal Cases

Rapid City Felon Sentenced for Illegal Gun Possession · South Dakota
22-Year-Old Rapid City Man Sentenced for Gun Possession by Felon · South Dakota
Rapid City Felon Bettelyoun Sentenced for Firearm Possession · South Dakota
Sioux Falls Felon Levi Shanteau Sentenced for Gun Possession · South Dakota
Rapid City Felon Shane McCloskey Sentenced for Unregistered Pistol · South Dakota

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Key Facts
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Key Facts

State: South Dakota
Agency: DOJ USAO
Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
Source: Official Source ↗

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