Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence to Caesar Valle, aged 22, on March 3, 2025. Valle received three years and four months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Valle's legal troubles began when he was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2024 and subsequently pleaded guilty in December 2024. The case stemmed from an incident in December 2023 when the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) received information that Valle was illegally selling firearms. An undercover operation ensued where an ATF agent posed as a buyer and purchased a Beretta shotgun from Valle for $650. During this transaction, Valle disclosed that the shotgun was stolen, which was later verified through its serial number check.
Valle's possession of firearms violated legal restrictions due to his prior felony convictions, including First Degree Robbery and Possession of a Firearm After Violent Felony Conviction.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence by uniting law enforcement agencies with community efforts. The program focuses on building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
The investigation into Valle's activities was conducted by ATF with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuting the case. Following his sentencing, Valle was immediately taken into custody by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
