Miller Man Charged with Being a Drug User in Possession of Firearm

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Miller, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm.

Johnathan Taylor, age 26, was indicted on February 13, 2019.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 22, 2019, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that between December 1, 2018, and December 12, 2018, Taylor, an unlawful user of and addicted to marijuana, had multiple firearms in his possession.  It is a federal felony for any person to possess a firearm while regularly using, or addicted to, illegal drugs.

The charge is merely an accusation and Taylor is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

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.  The Department of Justice 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.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.   

Taylor was released on conditions pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.