Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
Over the course of 2024, law enforcement agencies in South Dakota seized 230 firearms possessed illegally, as announced by United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. During the same period, approximately 112 defendants were charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for illegally owning or using firearms.
“By seizing firearms from individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms, law enforcement agencies prevented countless violent and drug-related crimes from occurring in communities across South Dakota,” stated Ramsdell. She expressed gratitude for the collaboration between federal, state, and tribal resources aimed at removing illegal firearms from streets.
The efforts to seize these weapons involved cooperation among several agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other local entities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City police departments.
Highlighted cases include United States v. Bryan Louis Archambeau where Archambeau was sentenced to nearly 11 years for robbery and firearm possession. Another case is United States v. Charles Colhoff involving a shooting incident; Colhoff received a nine-year sentence after being found with a firearm despite a previous felony conviction.
In United States v. Jerel Running Bear, Running Bear was sentenced to 27 years following a second-degree murder conviction involving firearm use during a crime of violence. Justin James Schneider faced over 13 years in prison after engaging in an armed standoff with officers while unlawfully possessing a firearm.
Lastly, Antoine Ray Thomas was convicted for his role in distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl along with firearm possession by a prohibited person; he was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
These prosecutions form part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime through collaborative efforts between law enforcement and community organizations. The Department of Justice launched this initiative on May 26, 2021, focusing on trust-building within communities and setting strategic enforcement priorities.
