A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and distribution of methamphetamine. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell and carried out by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schrier on February 10, 2025.
Rickey Eugene Johnson, Jr., aged 34, received a sentence of six years and three months in federal prison. This will be followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Johnson's legal troubles began with an indictment from 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 events leading to his arrest occurred on May 13, 2024, when law enforcement stopped Johnson while he was driving in Sioux Falls. During the stop, officers discovered a 9 mm handgun in his vehicle. Johnson is barred from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions. While awaiting trial for the firearm charge, Johnson sold methamphetamine to a confidential 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 various levels of law enforcement and community engagement. The Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, emphasizing trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention initiatives, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation into this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Paige Petersen prosecuting it.
Following the sentencing, Johnson was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.