A Sioux Falls man, Joseph Carpenter, was sentenced on March 23 to two years and six months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, according to an announcement made by United States Attorney Ron Parsons on Mar. 27.
The sentencing underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address gun-related offenses involving individuals with prior felony convictions. Carpenter will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and has been ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Carpenter, age 38, was indicted in June 2025 and pleaded guilty on January 2, 2026. The case originated from a search conducted by law enforcement at a Sioux Falls hotel room where Carpenter had been staying on February 13, 2025. Authorities discovered various types of ammunition during the search. Due to a previous felony conviction, Carpenter is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition.
The investigation was carried out by the Sioux Falls Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case. After sentencing, Carpenter was immediately remanded into custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative that utilizes resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). The operation aims “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 officials, PSN 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.”
