United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell has announced the sentencing of Todd Alan Peltier, a 31-year-old man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. U.S. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange delivered the sentence on January 13, 2025, in the U.S. District Court.
Peltier received a five-year federal prison sentence for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. This will be followed by three years of supervised release, and he is required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
In July 2024, Peltier was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He pleaded guilty to the latter charge in October 2024.
The case began on May 23, 2024, when detectives from the Sioux Falls Police Department observed Peltier driving to a casino on West 41st Street while he was on parole and had an active warrant for his arrest. After arresting him at the casino, officers found methamphetamine in his pants pocket during a search incident to arrest. Further searching of Peltier's vehicle uncovered a pistol with an obliterated serial number under the driver's seat. Peltier admitted to knowingly possessing the firearm.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The initiative was strengthened by the Department's violent crime reduction strategy launched on May 26, 2021.
Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department conducted the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Beau J. Blouin prosecuting the case.
Following his sentencing, Peltier was immediately placed into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.