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Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
District of South Dakota
Alison J. Ramsdell, United States Attorney
www.justice.gov/usao-sd
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Rapid City Man Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearms

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on November 22, 2022.

Brandon Tyon, 43, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Tyon was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in February of 2022. He pleaded guilty on August 1, 2022.

In January 2021, in Rapid City, Tyon, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, while using methamphetamine, possessed three firearms, including a Springfield Incorporated, Springfield Armory trademark, model M1A SOCOM 16, .308 Winchester caliber, semi-automatic rifle, a Raven Arms, model P25 (2nd Generation), .25 AUTO, semi-automatic pistol, a Sturm, Ruger & Company Incorporated, model 10/22, .22 Long Rifle caliber, semi-automatic rifle, and a Smith & Wesson, model M&P Bodyguard 380, .380 AUTO caliber, semi-automatic pistol, which were found after Tyon came into contact with law enforcement.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.

Tyon was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

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