Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced the sentencing of Arlen Blackburn, a 19-year-old from Rapid City, South Dakota, for possession of an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler handed down the sentence on January 23, 2025.
Blackburn received a three-year federal prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release and was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
In July 2024, Blackburn was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of an unregistered firearm. He pleaded guilty on November 1, 2024.
The case began in April 2024 when the Rapid City Police Department responded to reports of shots fired. Law enforcement identified a vehicle linked to the incident and discovered Blackburn as a passenger after initially fleeing. It was determined that Blackburn had discharged a sawed-off shotgun with a barrel less than eighteen inches long, which is illegal if not registered.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), aiming to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on community trust, prevention support, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder led the prosecution.
Following his sentencing, Blackburn was remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
