United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.
Mason Hamm, 20, was indicted on December 20, 2016, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on January 20, 2017. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The penalty upon conviction is up to 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge relates to Hamm unlawfully possessing a firearm suppressor, also known as a silencer. The charge is merely an accusation and Hamm is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks.Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Patterson is prosecuting the case.
Hamm was released pending trial. A trial date has not been set.