United States of America v. William Vandervier

Sioux Falls, South Dakota criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with Possessing a Rifle as a Felon

Dupree Man Sentenced to Three Years' Probation for Possessing a Rifle as a Felon

United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that U.S. District Court Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced a Dupree, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on December 16, 2024.



William Vandervier, age 38, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.



Vandervier was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2023. He pleaded guilty on September 25, 2024.



On June 26, 2023, officers from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services responded to a residence in Dupree and observed Vandervier standing outside. He reached into a vehicle, grabbed a rifle, and refused to comply with orders from the officers to put down the rifle; instead, he continued holding it until his brother was able to take it away. Vandervier knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms based on prior felony convictions.



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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.



This case was investigated by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Ziebach County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen prosecuted the case.