A Sioux Falls man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing an unregistered firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler handed down the sentence to Alan Leon Red Willow, 25, on February 23, 2026. In addition to the prison term, Red Willow will serve three years of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Red Willow was indicted by a federal grand jury in July 2025 on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. He pleaded guilty on October 31, 2025.
The case stems from an incident in March 2024 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Law enforcement officers identified Red Willow driving a stolen vehicle and attempted to stop him. After an unsuccessful attempt to evade police, officers found a sawed-off shotgun under his seat that was not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Federal law requires certain firearms—such as shotguns with barrels shorter than 18 inches or overall lengths under 26 inches—to be registered.
“This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime,” according to the press release. “Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). Through PSN, the District of South Dakota seeks to bring together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Rapid City Police Department; and Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.
Red Willow was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
