RAPID CITY, SD – Richard Neiss, 52, of Rapid City, is headed to federal prison for six and a half years after admitting to illegally possessing firearms. The sentence, handed down January 23rd by Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Jonathan A. Kobes, reflects the seriousness of the charge: Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
The bust went down June 29, 2022, when local law enforcement pulled over Neiss while he was driving in Rapid City. A search of his vehicle revealed a cache of six firearms – weapons Neiss was legally barred from owning due to a previous felony conviction. The details of that prior conviction have not been released.
Federal prosecutors secured an indictment from a grand jury in October 2022, and Neiss finally pleaded guilty on October 6, 2023. The plea likely came as a strategic move to avoid a potentially harsher sentence at trial. Beyond the prison term, Neiss will face three years of supervised release upon his eventual freedom and is ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The investigation was a joint effort spearheaded by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), alongside the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team – a multi-agency task force comprised of Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the South Dakota National Guard. The cooperation highlights the coordinated approach to tackling gun crime in the region.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell framed the case within the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) program, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN focuses on targeting the most dangerous offenders and bolstering community-based prevention and reentry programs. The program, officials claim, has a proven track record of effectiveness.
Neiss was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing. His firearms are subject to forfeiture, meaning the government will seize and likely dispose of them. The case serves as a stark reminder that those with felony convictions who attempt to illegally possess weapons will face serious federal consequences. “
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