United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Bullhead, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of a Stolen Firearm.
Nicholas James Black Cloud, age 20, was indicted on January 11, 2022. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 29, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to ten years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The Indictment alleges that on October 25, 2021, in McLaughlin, South Dakota, Black Cloud was in possession of a stolen firearm, which he took from a vehicle.
The charge is merely an accusation and Black Cloud is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
The investigation is being conducted by the Corson County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook is prosecuting the case.
Black Cloud was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has not been set.