RAPID CITY, SD – Zachery Moore, 29, of Modesto, California, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced Monday for illegally possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken handed down a four-year sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Moore was also ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case dates back to July 2021, when Rapid City Police encountered Moore. A search revealed he was packing a stolen Kimber Micro 9, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol. As if that weren’t enough, authorities also found Moore in possession of heroin and materials indicating he was distributing drugs. The discovery landed him in federal court, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person – a charge he pleaded guilty to in September 2022.
Moore’s prior felony conviction already barred him from legally owning a firearm. The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury in October 2021, detailed the circumstances of the July encounter. The ATF and the Rapid City Police Department jointly investigated the case, piecing together the evidence that led to Moore’s conviction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case, securing the four-year sentence.
Federal officials are framing the sentence as a win for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a broad initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement at all levels and the communities they serve. The Department of Justice launched a strengthened PSN strategy in May 2021, emphasizing community trust, prevention programs, strategic enforcement, and measurable results.
Moore’s defense offered no substantial argument against the sentence. Judge Viken showed little leniency, citing Moore’s criminal history and the dangerous combination of an illegal firearm and drug distribution. The judge immediately remanded Moore to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, ending his freedom and beginning his four-year stretch in a federal penitentiary.
The ATF’s St. Paul Field Division led the investigation, highlighting the agency’s continued focus on tracking illegal firearms and disrupting criminal activity. While the sentence won’t undo the damage caused by Moore’s actions, authorities hope it sends a clear message: possessing a firearm while prohibited and engaging in drug trafficking will be met with swift and severe consequences.
Related Federal Cases
- Zachery Moore, Illegal Firearm Possession, California 2023 · Iowa
- John Doe, Illegal Handgun Possession, Peoria IL, 2023 · Illinois
- Kevin Bordeaux, Stolen Firearm Possession, California 2016 · California
- Gregorio Aguirre, Unregistered Firearm Possession, South Dakota 2014 · Texas
- Gary Joe Emery, Possession of Firearm, South Dakota 2012 · California
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
