Rapid City Man Sentenced to Nearly 5 Years in Federal Prison For Possessing a Firearm as a Felon (DOJ)

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on October 27, 2025.

Louis Iron Cloud, 34, was sentenced to four years and nine 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.

Iron Cloud was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in May 2025. He pleaded guilty on August 13, 2025.

On April 18, 2025, law enforcement learned that Iron Cloud had carried a semi-automatic rifle. Law enforcement recovered the rifle in a backyard where a witness had seen Iron Cloud shortly before. The rifle was found next to four high-capacity magazines. One of the magazines was loaded. Iron Cloud was previously convicted for a crime punishable beyond a year in prison. To possess a firearm or ammunition after such a conviction is a federal felony.

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 ATF and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.

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