Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Miller, South Dakota, man convicted of Felon in Possession of a Firearm was sentenced on August 12, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Johnathan Taylor, age 27, was sentenced to time served, 2 years of supervised release, forfeiture of his interest in 6 firearms, any and all ammunition recovered with the weapons, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Taylor was indicted by a federal grand jury on February 13, 2019. He pled guilty on May 28, 2019.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on December 1, 2018, when a South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks Officer was conducting licensing verification and encountered Taylor, who had a pump action shot gun. When the officer discovered Taylor was an individual prohibited from possessing a firearm, a search warrant was executed on Taylor’s residence and the 6 firearms were seized. During the search, marijuana was also discovered, to which Taylor admitted to using daily for about 8 years.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigated by South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.

Taylor was released following sentencing.

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