RAPID CITY, SD – Warren Hotchkiss, 42, of Rapid City, is starting a four-year federal prison sentence after admitting to possessing a ghost gun. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken handed down the sentence on March 24, 2023, following Hotchkiss’s guilty plea in November. The case, investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rapid City Police Department, highlights the continued flow of unregistered weapons onto the streets.
According to court documents, Hotchkiss was found in August 2022 with a semi-automatic rifle whose barrel measured less than 16 inches – a configuration that requires federal registration. The weapon wasn’t registered to Hotchkiss in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, making its possession illegal. The feds weren’t buying his excuses, and a grand jury indicted him in September.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson successfully prosecuted the case, presenting evidence that clearly showed Hotchkiss knowingly possessed the unregistered firearm. The prosecution’s focus wasn’t on whether Hotchkiss *intended* to use the weapon, but that he violated federal law by possessing it in the first place. The ATF has been cracking down on these types of violations, aiming to curb the proliferation of untraceable firearms.
Hotchkiss won’t just be doing time; he’s also on the hook for $100, which will go to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Following the sentencing, Hotchkiss was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service, ending his freedom and beginning his four-year stay in a federal facility. Sources say he didn’t offer much resistance.
This case is being touted as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence. But critics argue that PSN is just a rebranding of older strategies and doesn’t address the root causes of crime. Regardless, the Department of Justice is pushing the narrative that this sentencing sends a clear message: illegal gun possession will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The ATF and Rapid City Police Department are continuing to investigate other potential violations related to unregistered firearms in the area. They’re urging anyone with information about illegal gun activity to come forward. Hotchkiss’s case serves as a stark reminder that owning a firearm comes with responsibilities, and ignoring those responsibilities can lead to serious consequences.
Related Federal Cases
- Ahmed Belhage, Illegal Firearm Possession, Rapid City SD, 2023 · South Dakota
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- Juan Crawford, Illegal Firearm Possession, Rapid City SD, 2023 · South Dakota
- Ryan Reausaw, Illegal Firearm, Rapid City SD, 2023 · South Dakota
- Duane Starkey, Illegal Firearm Possession, Rapid City SD, 2023 · South Dakota
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