Box Elder Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Robbery

 United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Box Elder, South Dakota, man convicted of Interference with Commerce by Robbery and Use and Brandishing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Crime of Violence was sentenced on December 14, 2020, by Judge Jeffrey L. Viken, U.S. District Court.

Johnathan Adkins, age 21, was sentenced to 9 ½ years in federal prison. As to the Robbery conviction, Adkins was sentenced to 2 ½ years in federal prison and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. As to the Firearm conviction, Adkins was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison, to be served consecutively to the Robbery sentence, 3 years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The convictions relate to Adkins and two other individuals robbing the Quality Inn and Big D at Rapid City in January 2020, and brandishing a pistol at an employee at each establishment.

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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of its renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and local communities to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department's past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. For more information about Project Guardian, please see: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-william-p-barr-announces-launch-project-guardian-nationwide-strategic-plan

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.

Adkins was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.