DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of South Dakota

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Brendan V. Johnson
, United States Attorney
Contact: Ace Crawford

North Dakota Man Sentenced for Possession of Firearm by a Prohibited Person

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a North Dakota man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on December 30, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann. Virgil Running Bear, Jr., age 40, was sentenced to 57 months of imprisonment, 3 years of Supervised Release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Running Bear was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2013.

He pled guilty on September 23, 2013.

The conviction stems from a December 10, 2012, incident wherein the Edmunds County Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate a report of a vehicle in a ditch near Ipswich, South Dakota. When a deputy sheriff reviewed Running Bear’s driver’s license and registration, he learned that Running Bear had a revoked license and was on federal probation. After receiving permission, the deputy searched Running Bear’s vehicle and found three firearms and assorted ammunition, which he was prohibited from possessing.

The weapons had been transported through interstate commerce and functioned properly. This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Edmunds County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rich and First Assistant Randolph Seiler prosecuted the case. Running Bear was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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St. Paul Field Division