MEDIA ADVISORY

The United States Attorney’s Office and the Project Safe Neighborhood Task Force will hold a press conference on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at the Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building in Rapid City, South Dakota. 

The reinvigoration of the DOJ initiative Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), the function of the newly created Task Force, and recent prosecutions will be discussed.

The continued growth of methamphetamine and other drug trafficking has become a prevalent issue and both the threat and actual instances of gun violence are on the rise.  It has become commonplace to find methamphetamine distributors and users in possession of firearms.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) has selected Rapid City as a location of immediate concern in its PSN efforts.  Through an established PSN task force, the USAO collaborates with key law enforcement and community partners to share intelligence and prosecute those who are driving violent crime and distribution of illegal drugs. 

WHO:      Ron Parsons: U.S. Attorney, District of South Dakota

                   Marty Jackley: Attorney General, State of South Dakota

                   Mark Vargo: Pennington County States Attorney

                   Karl Jegeris: Rapid City Police Chief

                   Kevin Thom: Pennington County Sheriff

                   Kurt Wheeler: ATF Resident Agent in Charge

                   PSN Task Force: State and Federal law enforcement

WHAT:         Press Conference

WHEN:         Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. MST.

WHERE:       USAO Conference Room, located on the 2^nd Floor of the Federal Building.  Address is 515 Ninth Street, Rapid City.

SECURITY: All media must enter through the first floor lobby. Media will be required to go through security and present a government-issued photo ID. Audio and video recording devices are allowed only in the press conference location, and the use of these devices is prohibited anywhere else in the federal building.

Press inquiries regarding logistics may be directed to Ace Crawford at 605.341.1915 or 605.838.6092.