SIOUX FALLS, SD – South Dakota streets saw 368 illegal firearms yanked from the hands of criminals in 2023, a haul that federal authorities say prevented ‘countless’ violent and drug-related crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota announced today that 93 defendants now face federal charges related to the unlawful possession, use, or acquisition of these weapons.
The seizures are the result of a multi-agency task force including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, DEA, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the State Highway Patrol, and numerous local police departments and sheriff’s offices. The message is clear: packing heat illegally in South Dakota will get you a one-way ticket to federal prison.
One of the most significant cases involved Sam Boyd, who received a staggering 23 1/3 year federal sentence after a jury found him guilty of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. Investigators revealed Boyd, despite a prior felony conviction, routinely possessed multiple firearms while running a meth distribution network originating in Colorado Springs. The DEA, ATF, and Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team brought Boyd down.
Another major bust involved Weston Clausen, Jaylen Ducheneaux, and Ford Traversie, who brazenly burglarized Reloaders Corner, a licensed federal firearm retailer in Isabel, in August 2022. The trio made off with 105 firearms, ammunition, and other items. Authorities say the stolen weapons were then illegally trafficked across state lines, with several recovered in South Dakota, Colorado, and beyond. The investigation into the trafficking network remains ongoing.
“Illegal firearms trafficking simply cannot be tolerated as it directly fuels violent crime within our communities,” stated Special Agent in Charge Travis Riddle of the ATF’s St. Paul Field Division. “We at ATF will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners across South Dakota to pursue these perpetrators of violence.” Jamie Holt, HSI St. Paul Special Agent in Charge, echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of strong partnerships in keeping communities safe.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell stated her office is “grateful for the strong law enforcement partnerships in South Dakota, which allow us to combine federal, state, and tribal resources to target some of the most dangerous individuals in our state and remove illegal firearms from our streets.” While authorities tout the success of these operations, the Grimy Times will continue to monitor the flow of illegal firearms and the impact on crime rates across South Dakota.
Related Federal Cases
- Sarah Jahner Clifford, Meth & Gun Trafficking, South Dakota 2023 · North Dakota
- Sam Boyd, Gun Trafficking, South Dakota 2023 · Colorado
- Sam Boyd, 23-Year Prison Term for Gun Trafficking, South Dakota 1934 · Colorado
- Sam Boyd, Meth & Gun Conspiracy, Rapid City SD, 2024 · Colorado
- Andrew Cortes, Gun Possession, South Dakota 2023 · Colorado
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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