U.S. Department of Justice

United States Attorney
District of South Dakota

District of South Dakota

www.justice.gov/usao/sd

For Immediate Release

November 30, 2011

Box Elder Man Sentenced for Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Box Elder, South Dakota, man charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm was sentenced on November 28, 2011, by United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken. Gene Edward Taranto, age 32, was sentenced to 27 months’ custody, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund.

Taranto was indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury on November 17, 2010. The charges related to Taranto knowingly possessing a firearm when pulled over by a South Dakota Highway Patrol trooper on October 20, 2010, in Pennington County. Taranto pled guilty to the charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm on August 15, 2011.

This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Box Elder Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Ted L. McBride prosecuted the case.

Taranto was immediately turned over to the custody of the United States Marshal.

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