United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Felon in Possession of a Firearm was sentenced on September 5, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.
Craig Edward Valandra, age 35, was sentenced to 24 months in prison followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.
Valandra was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 19, 2016. He pled guilty on March 7, 2017.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred on June 20, 2016. On that date, Rosebud Sioux Tribe Police Officers responded to a report that Valandra was causing a disturbance and firing a gun outside a house in St. Francis. The officers subsequently located Valandra at a nearby house, arrested him, and seized a.357 caliber revolver and a.40 caliber pistol from his person.
Valandra was convicted of Arson in U.S. District Court in 2004, making it illegal for him to possess firearms. Valandra will forfeit ownership of the firearms seized in the case to the United States.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Valandra was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
