Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine was sentenced on June 18, 2019, by Chief Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Joseph Bradshaw, age 37, was sentenced to 17.5  years in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  He also forfeited 13 firearms collected during a search of his residence in October of 2017.

Bradshaw was indicted for Conspiring to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance, and Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm by a federal grand jury on October 24, 2017.  He pled guilty on January 25, 2019.

Bradshaw received pounds of methamphetamine from a California supplier.  The methamphetamine Bradshaw received was distributed in North Dakota and the Black Hills.  Additional co-conspirators are pending sentencing and trials in Rapid City.

Drug trafficking is an inherently violent activity.  Firearms are tools of the trade for drug dealers.  It is common to find drug traffickers armed with guns in order to protect their illegal drug product and cash, and enforce their illegal operations.

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 its 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 local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigated by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Unified Narcotics Enforcement Team. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn N. Rich prosecuted the case.

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

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