Rapid City Man Sentenced to Over 2 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that Chief District Judge Roberto A. Lange has sentenced a Rapid City man convicted of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on September 28, 2026.

Patrick Riley Bettelyoun, 47, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Bettelyoun was indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in July 2025. He pleaded guilty on June 29, 2026.

Bettelyoun was convicted of a felony offense for possession of a controlled substance in Codington County, South Dakota, in 2022. In October 2024, Bettelyoun was on parole and absconded. Accordingly, an arrest warrant was issued and the warrant area task force found him in a vehicle in Sioux Falls and performed a traffic stop. During a search of Bettelyoun's vehicle, law enforcement located a firearm, ammunition, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.

This case was investigated by the Sioux Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert-Webb prosecuted the case.

Bettelyoun was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.