A brazen robbery at the Corner Pantry convenience store in Rapid City left the community shaken. On February 2021, Thomas Richards, a 23-year-old man from Pine Ridge, South Dakota, stormed into the store, brandishing a pistol and threatening the clerk. The suspect demanded cash and, in the process, committed a heinous crime.
The investigation that followed was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson led the prosecution, bringing the case to a swift resolution.
On March 10, 2021, a federal grand jury indicted Richards on charges of Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence. Just over a month later, Richards pleaded guilty to the charges on May 14, 2021.
On August 24, 2021, Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court, handed down a seven-year sentence to Richards, followed by five years of supervised release. Richards was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $320 in restitution to the Corner Pantry convenience store.
The swift justice served as a much-needed closure for the community. Richards was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, bringing an end to his reign of terror.
The sentencing serves as a reminder that the use of firearms during the commission of a crime will not be tolerated. The community can rest a little easier knowing that the perpetrator is behind bars, and justice has been served.
Defendant: Thomas Richards
Criminal Charges: Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence
City and State: Pine Ridge, South Dakota
Sentencing Date: August 24, 2021
Sentence: Seven years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release
Dollar Amounts: $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, $320 in restitution to the Corner Pantry convenience store
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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