RAPID CITY, SD – Another South Dakota felon caught with heat. Michael Wilson, 37, of Rapid City, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to four years for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken handed down the sentence on February 3, 2023, adding three years of supervised release to the term and a $100 penalty paid to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case stemmed from an incident in February 2020. According to court documents, Wilson, already a convicted felon – and therefore legally barred from owning firearms – was found to be in possession of a Taurus, 9mm semi-automatic pistol after an encounter with local law enforcement. A federal grand jury indicted Wilson in April 2022, and he ultimately pleaded guilty on October 21, 2022.
This wasn’t some slip-up. Wilson knowingly possessed the weapon while under legal restrictions. The feds don’t mess around with that. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), along with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation and the Rapid City Police Department, built the case, proving Wilson’s unlawful possession beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell framed the sentencing as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” (PSN) initiative. PSN is the usual rhetoric – a broad effort to connect law enforcement with communities to reduce violent crime. The DOJ claims they’re fostering trust and focusing on strategic enforcement. We’ll see if it makes a dent in the real crime happening on the streets.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson handled the prosecution, securing the four-year sentence. The details matter: this isn’t about a first offense or a misunderstanding of the law. It’s a repeat offender knowingly breaking the rules, and the system responded accordingly. Wilson was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his time.
Grimy Times will continue to track federal cases in South Dakota, exposing the underbelly of crime and holding those responsible accountable. This case serves as a stark reminder: possessing a firearm while prohibited carries serious consequences, and the feds are actively investigating and prosecuting these offenses.
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Related Federal Cases
- Mitchell Man Gets Probation for Illegal Gun · South Dakota
- Sioux Falls Man, 20, Charged With Illegal Gun Possession · South Dakota
- Box Elder Man Gets 22 Months for Illegal Firearm · Montana
- Hayes Gets 3+ Years for Stolen Gun: A Felon’s Fall · South Dakota
- Sioux Falls Felon Gets 4½ Years for Gun Ammo · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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