Thorstenson Gets 2.5 Years for Gun Possession
A federal judge sentenced Dakota Thorstenson, 30, to 2 years and 6 months in prison for possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier sentenced Dakota Thorstenson, 30, to 2 years and 6 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment. Thorstenson had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Why it matters
Thorstenson's sentence reflects federal enforcement of firearm prohibitions against people with prior felony convictions. The case followed a pair of rapid automobile accidents in southern Sioux Falls, after which a pistol was found on him.
Thorstenson was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in federal prison after pleading guilty on August 11, 2026, to a May 2026 federal indictment. The sentence includes three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The players
Karen E. Schreier
Karen E. Schreier is a U.S. District Judge for the District of South Dakota who imposed the federal sentence on Thorstenson.
Dakota Thorstenson
Dakota Thorstenson is a 30-year-old man with prior felony convictions in South Dakota who was sentenced for possessing a firearm as a prohibited person.
The details
Thorstenson was the driver in two automobile accidents in rapid succession in southern Sioux Falls in April 2026. Local law enforcement took him into custody and found a pistol on him, leading to a federal indictment for firearm possession by a prohibited person.
Timeline
2015: Thorstenson receives felony convictions for marijuana distribution and assault on a law enforcement officer in Brookings County.
2022: Thorstenson receives a felony conviction for third-or-subsequent simple assault in Minnehaha County.
April 2026: Thorstenson is involved in two accidents in southern Sioux Falls and a pistol is found on him.
May 2026: A federal grand jury indicts Thorstenson for firearm possession.
August 11, 2026: Thorstenson pleads guilty.
Legal Context
Federal prosecutions under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) target people with prior felony convictions who possess firearms, a provision frequently used alongside state-level sentencing. Thorstenson's case applies that statute to a defendant whose record includes both drug and assault convictions.
The sentence removes a defendant with a record of assault and drug felonies from the community for at least two and a half years, followed by three years of federal supervised release. Residents of Sioux Falls and surrounding South Dakota counties see federal firearm prohibitions enforced against repeat felony offenders.
The takeaway
Federal firearm prohibitions apply to anyone with a prior felony conviction, regardless of how much time has passed since the offense. Anyone with a felony record should understand that possessing a gun can bring separate federal charges.
Further reading
Explore more Criminal Justice coverage from Sioux Falls.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The United States Department of Justice.
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