Rapid City Woman Sentenced in Federal Court for Illegally Purchasing a Firearm for a Felon (DOJ)

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Camela C. Theeler has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Straw Purchasing a gun. The sentencing took place on May 28, 2026.

Loveletta Bissonette, 22, was sentenced to time served, which was over six months of custody, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Bissonette was indicted for Straw Purchasing, False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm, and False Statement to a Licensed Firearm Dealer by a federal grand jury in October 2025. She pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026.

Loveletta Bissonette schemed with Dakota Moore to buy a gun for Moore, who had been convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing firearms. The purpose of their scheme was to have Bissonette buy the firearm because, as a prohibited person, Moore could not. Bissonette first tried buying a firearm from one business. That business became suspicious that Bissonette was buying the firearm for another person and refused to sell a firearm to her. Bissonette then went to another store and successfully bought a firearm. To do so, Bissonette lied by certifying the gun was for herself, when in truth it was for Moore. It is a violation of federal law to knowingly purchase a firearm for a person who is prohibited from possessing firearms. This is known as a straw purchase. Within a week, law enforcement responded to a gunshot report associated with a vehicle that Bissonette was driving. Law enforcement officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop on this vehicle and discovered Moore in the backseat in possession of the firearm Bissonette had bought for him.

"This case should serve as a warning," said U.S. Attorney Parsons. "Don't allow yourself to be used by others or get caught up in their criminal activities. It is a federal crime for a convicted felon to have a gun, and if you buy a gun in order to give it to a felon, you will find, in short order, that you are now a convicted felon yourself."

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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Schroeder prosecuted the case.