Zachary Kirschenmann, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, South Dakota 2023

RAPID CITY, SD – Zachary Kirschenmann, 27, of Rapid City, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to three years for illegally possessing firearms. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken handed down the sentence on August 4th, adding another three years of supervised release after Kirschenmann serves his time.

The case began August 1, 2022, when Rapid City Police pulled over a vehicle driven by Kirschenmann. A search revealed a disturbing cache: two firearms, including one previously reported stolen, a ballistics vest, multiple rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, a lockbox brimming with more ammunition and firearm optics. Everything was stuffed into a backpack alongside Kirschenmann’s personal documents.

Kirschenmann was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2022, and ultimately pleaded guilty in April to the charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. South Dakota felony convictions had already stripped him of the legal right to own weapons, a fact seemingly lost on the 27-year-old. He’ll also have to pay a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, a pittance considering the potential danger he posed.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team – a multi-agency task force pulling resources from the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Rapid City Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and even the South Dakota National Guard. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich led the prosecution.

Federal officials are framing Kirschenmann’s sentencing as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. The program focuses on targeting the most dangerous offenders and pairing enforcement with prevention and reentry programs. Whether that strategy will truly make a dent in violent crime remains to be seen, but for now, one more illegal firearm is off the streets.

Kirschenmann was immediately taken into custody by U.S. Marshals. The firearms seized during the August 2022 traffic stop have been forfeited, meaning they are now in the hands of law enforcement. This case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm with a criminal record carries serious federal consequences.

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