Rapid City Woman Sentenced for Illegal Possession of Firearm

RAPID CITY - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier has sentenced a Rapid City, South Dakota, woman convicted of Possession of a Stolen Firearm. The sentencing took place on July 12, 2024.

Danielle Coats, age, 23, was sentenced to two years and six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and $7,169.97 in restitution.

Coats was indicted for Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Tampering, and Accessory After the Fact by a federal grand jury in February of 2024. She pleaded guilty on April 26, 2024.

Between August of 2023 and September of 2023, at Rapid City, Coats was found to be in possession of a Beretta 12-gauge shotgun, a Benelli 12-gauge shotgun, a USA Military Surplus .30 caliber rifle, and a Stoeger 12-gauge shotgun, knowing the firearms had previously been stolen by another person from various licensed firearms dealers in Rapid City. After coming into possession of the firearms and learning that law enforcement was aware of who had stolen them and that the firearms were likely at Coats' residence, Coats involved others in removing the firearms from her residence to another family member's home. Subsequently, Coats directed others to again move or dispose of the firearms to prevent law enforcement from recovering them.

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.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Patterson prosecuted the case.

Coats was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.