Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison for possession of a firearm as a felon and distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schrier handed down the sentence on February 10, 2025.
Rickey Eugene Johnson, Jr., aged 34, received a sentence of six years and three months in federal prison. Following his prison term, he will be subject to three years of supervised release. Additionally, Johnson was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Johnson faced charges after being indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and distribution of a controlled substance. He entered a guilty plea in November 2024.
The incident leading to Johnson's arrest occurred on May 13, 2024, when law enforcement stopped his vehicle in Sioux Falls and discovered a 9 mm handgun inside. Due to previous felony convictions, Johnson is barred from possessing firearms. While awaiting trial for the firearm charge, he sold methamphetamine to an informant working with law enforcement on January 17, 2024.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust within communities and supporting organizations that prevent violence.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations with Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuting the case.
Following sentencing, Johnson was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
