A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearm-related offenses. Caesar Valle, 22, received a sentence of three years and four months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The sentencing was delivered by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier on March 3, 2025.
Valle faced charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of a Stolen Firearm. His indictment came from a federal grand jury in May 2024, and he pleaded guilty in December 2024.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) initiated an investigation into Valle's activities after receiving information in December 2023 that he was involved in illegal firearm sales. An undercover operation led to Valle selling a Beretta shotgun for $650 to an ATF agent posing as a buyer. The shotgun was confirmed stolen through its serial number check. Valle's possession of firearms is prohibited due to previous felony convictions, including First Degree Robbery and Possession of a Firearm After Violent Felony Conviction.
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 Department launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, focusing on community trust, supporting preventive organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and result measurement.
The investigation was conducted by the ATF with prosecution handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce. Following his sentencing, Valle was remanded into the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.