RAPID CITY – William Janis, a 25-year-old man from Rapid City, has been sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm while on parole. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler imposed the sentence on July 21, 2025.
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Janis was convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person following his arrest in December 2024. He had previously been convicted of a felony and was on parole for drug-related charges when he attempted to gain access into an apartment complex with a firearm concealed in his waistband.
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The sentence includes three years of supervised release and requires Janis to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The federal judge ordered that Janis’s federal sentence run consecutively to his state custody sentence for a prior drug conviction.
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This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime. The operation involves the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), which seeks to reduce gun violence and enhance public safety.
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Janis was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rapid City Police Department. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case, leading to Janis’s immediate remand to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced the sentence, emphasizing the commitment to enforcing federal firearms laws and keeping communities safe from dangerous individuals like William Janis.
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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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