Okreek Man Sentenced to Over 5 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm

PIERRE - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte has sentenced an Okreek, South Dakota, man convicted of Possession of an Unregistered Firearm. The sentencing took place on June 2, 2026.

Sheldon Denoyer, age 36, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Forfeiture of the unregistered firearm was also ordered.

Denoyer was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2025. He pleaded guilty on March 2, 2026.

This conviction stems from an incident that occurred on June 13, 2023, in Mission, South Dakota, within the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation. On that date, Denoyer was observed standing on a street corner with a short-barreled rifle, firing it into the air. Denoyer then got into a vehicle and departed the area. A short time later he was observed exiting the vehicle, leaving the rifle behind, and fleeing from law enforcement. The rifle was recovered and found to have a barrel length of 11 ¾ inches. The rifle was not registered to Denoyer in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer record as required by federal law.

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. 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.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Dilges prosecuted the case.

Denoyer was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.