Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Pierre, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm was sentenced on April 20, 2015, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Clyde Aquallo, age 40, was sentenced to 46 months in custody for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, and 46 months in custody for a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm, to be served concurrently, two years of supervised release, a $1,000 fine, and a $200 special assessment fee to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Aquallo was indicted for Possession of Unregistered Firearm, two counts of a Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearm, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Using and Carrying a Firearm and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, and Distribution of a Controlled Substance, by a federal grand jury on December 9, 2014. He was found guilty by a jury on January 30, 2015, of Possession of Unregistered Firearm and one count of Prohibited Person in Possession of Firearm.

On February 27, 2014, Aquallo was living at a residence on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. As part of a domestic violence call, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services were called to the home where he was living and learned there were firearms in the residence that the victim wanted removed from the residence. As the investigation progressed, officers learned Aquallo was using methamphetamine and possessed several firearms, including a sawed-off shotgun, which had a barrel that was too short.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Maher and Carrie Sanderson prosecuted the case.

Aquallo was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.