Eagle Butte Man Sentenced for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on December 11, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Elliot John Tiger, age 27, was sentenced to 10 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, forfeiture of two firearms and ammunition, and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Tiger was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 14, 2017, for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and pled guilty to the charge on September 26, 2017.

On December 9, 2016, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Tiger was a passenger.  At the time of the stop, law enforcement seized a .30-30 caliber rifle from the front seat where Tiger was sitting, and a 12 gauge shotgun located in the back seat. Tiger denies any ownership in the two firearms or any ammunition found in the vehicle; however, agreed to forfeit any interest he may have had in both the firearms and the ammunition.  Tiger admitted to smoking marijuana on the date of the traffic stop and prior to that date.  While he denied owning either firearm, Tiger admitted that the rifle was within his reach in the vehicle, and that he had fired both firearms earlier in the day.

This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Narcotic Division and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.

Tiger was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.