ATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
02/26/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/26/2026 12:23
Sturgis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Felon (DOJ)
RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Sturgis, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on February 23, 2026.
Kaine Sander, 22, was sentenced to one year and 10 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Sander was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 31, 2025.
In June of 2025, in Meade County, Sander was the passenger in a car stopped by a police officer for having a cracked windshield. Sander possessed a revolver along with ammunition and THC. Sander had previously been convicted of a felony and as a result, is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. To do so constitutes a federal felony crime.
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.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Meade County Sheriff's Office, and the Sturgis Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Sander was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
ATF - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives published this content on February 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on February 26, 2026 at 18:23 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]