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 Dec. 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 Sept. 23, 2013.
The conviction stems from a Dec. 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.
