Sioux Falls Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Prohibited Possession of a Firearm

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man, convicted of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. The sentencing took place on March 4, 2024, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Marcus Jerell Anderson, age 35, was sentenced to four years and two months federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $100 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Anderson was indicted for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. He pleaded guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person on December 1, 2023.

On February 11, 2023, Anderson was the driver of a vehicle pulled over for a traffic violation. While car-side, officers smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and the vehicle was searched. Law enforcement located over 100 grams of marijuana, over 20 grams of cocaine, a working digital scale, $2,575 in cash, and a Springfield Armory Hellcat 9mm handgun under the driver’s seat. The investigation confirmed that Anderson had been in possession of that firearm; however, he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition because he is a convicted felon. In 2009, Anderson was convicted of Aggravated Assault in Davison County, South Dakota.   

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Ebert prosecuted the case.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Anderson was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.