Rapid City Man Arraigned on Charge of Making a False Statement During Attempted Purchase of a Firearm

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Easton L. Mercy, age 20, was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 17, 2010, for Making a False Statement During Attempted Purchase of a Firearm. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on January 6, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Mercy is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the ATF, the Rapid City Police Department, and the Pennington County Sheriff's Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted L. McBride is prosecuting the case. Mercy was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.