Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to 16 Months in Federal Prison for Failing to Register as a Sex Offender

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte, has sentenced a man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on February 3, 2026.

Garrett Heck, age 30, was sentenced to sixteen months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Heck was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2025. He pleaded guilty on October 23, 2025.

As a result of a prior conviction, Heck is required to register as a sex offender and update his registration within three business days of relocation or change in employment or student status. On May 14, 2025, Heck updated his sex offender registration to reflect his new employment. On May 20, 2025, Heck was no longer working at his registered employment, but he did not update his registration. Heck further did not update his registration after being evicted from his residence on July 7, 2025. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued, and on July 29, 2025, Heck was arrested in Sioux Falls.

This case was brought as a part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices and the DOJ's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Unit prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Zachrison prosecuted the case.

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