Bryant Man Sentenced to 2.5 Years for Illegal Firearm Possession After Felony Conviction
- Steve Jurrens
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Northeast Radio SD News – Bryant, SD - A Bryant man has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing multiple firearms despite a prior felony conviction, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
Jerry Allan Kretzschmar, 44, received a 30‑month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on May 18, 2026. In addition to prison time, he was ordered to serve three years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Kretzschmar was indicted in August 2025 and later pleaded guilty on October 8, 2025. His conviction stems from a February 5, 2025, search conducted by the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office at his Bryant residence. Investigators reported finding “numerous firearms and drug‑related items” during the initial search. A second warrant executed at a farm property south of Bryant uncovered additional firearms. In total, authorities seized 12 firearms from the two locations.
Because of a previous felony conviction, Kretzschmar is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating violent crime, drug trafficking organizations, and transnational criminal networks. The program integrates resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).
The investigation was conducted by the Hamlin County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Kretzschmar was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following sentencing.
