RAPID CITY, S.D. – A federal grand jury has indicted two men from Lead for illegal possession of machine guns.
Search warrants were executed at the residences of Ray Steele, 62, and John Sitar, 43, in May of 2024.
A search of Steele’s residence turned up 7 firearms, 6 machine gun conversion devices, thousands of ammunition rounds and hundreds of ammunition components. Steele is a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Sitar was also found to possess a machine gun conversion device as well as a short-barrel rifle which was not registered to him.
Ray Steele was indicted in May of 2024 on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun. He pleaded not guilty to the indictment on August 7.
If convicted, Steele faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release and an order to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
John Sitar was indicted in September of 2024 for Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun and Possession of Unregistered Firearm. He pleaded not guilty to the Indictment on September 23.
The maximum penalty for Sitar upon conviction is up to 10 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release and an order to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges against both men are merely accusations. Steele and Sitar are presumed innocent until proven guilty under the U.S. Constitution.
Steele was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. His trial is scheduled for December 17, 2024. Sitar was released on bond pending his trial, which has not yet been scheduled.
