South Dakota felon charged with possession of a firearm following ICE HSI investigation

DOJ Press

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – An eastern South Dakota man pleaded not guilty Nov. 22, to charges of his being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The case is being investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Sioux Falls Police Department.

Acting United States Attorney Dennis R. Holmes announced that a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Omot Musa Karlo, 20, was indicted by a federal grand jury Nov. 9. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy Nov. 22 to enter his not guilty plea.


The indictment alleges that on or about Aug. 31, Karlo, who had been convicted of a crime punishable by a prison term exceeding one year, knowingly possessed a Glock 19mm, semi-automatic pistol, which had been previously shipped and transported in interstate and foreign commerce.


The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 paid to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper is prosecuting the case.

Karlo was remanded to the custody of the State of South Dakota pending trial. A trial date has not been set.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 7,100 Special Agents assigned to 220 cities throughout the United States, and 80 overseas locations in 53 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.

Find us on Twitter @HSISaintPaul.

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