Lower Brule Man Sentenced on Firearms Charges

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person was sentenced on May 14, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Lyle Wade Whitney, age 45, was sentenced to 15 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, forfeiture of firearms and ammunition, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Whitney was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 16, 2017.  He pleaded guilty on February 5, 2018.

On May 16 and May 17, 2017, law enforcement executed search warrants on Whitney’s residence and property in Lower Brule, and seized 17 firearms, two of which had been stolen, a large amount of ammunition, and drug paraphernalia testing positive for methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.  A urine sample taken from Whitney tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine, and Whitney admitted to using methamphetamine on more than one occasion.  Defendant agreed to forfeit his interest in all of the firearms and ammunition seized by law enforcement.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Crow Creek Agency, and the Northern Plains Safe Trails Drug Enforcement Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.

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