Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A Rapid City man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a felon. U.S. District Judge Camela C. Theeler handed down the sentence to Jayquan Flying Horse, 20, on August 15, 2025, following his conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person.
Flying Horse will also serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
He was indicted by a federal grand jury in February 2025 and pleaded guilty on May 5, 2025.
The case stems from an incident in December 2024 when Rapid City police responded to a weapons call at an apartment building. According to court documents, Flying Horse and two others were leaving the building when officers arrived. When asked for identification, Flying Horse tried to avoid police and refused to identify himself. During the encounter, he admitted to carrying a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic pistol. At the time, Flying Horse was on parole for a felony drug conviction and knew he was not allowed to possess firearms under his parole agreement.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Rapid City Police Department investigated this case. Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted it.
Flying Horse was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
