Department of Justice

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Martin, South Dakota, man was charged in federal district court with Theft of Firearms, Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, and Possession of a Stolen Firearm.  

Sidney Marshall, age 25, was charged on April 16, 2019.  Marshall appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on June 6, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.  The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to Marshall, a previously convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms, breaking into a business in Martin and stealing multiple firearms in August 2018.  The charges are merely an accusation and Marshall is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Martin Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.

Marshall was detained pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.