Nearly 6 Years in Prison for Gun Theft in Rapid City

RAPID CITY, SD. (AP) — One of the two men involved in the theft of two dozen guns in Rapid City a year ago is heading to federal prison.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Viken sentenced 31-year-old Matthew Keifer of Rapid City to 5 years, 11 months in prison on Monday.

Keifer earlier pleaded guilty to stealing the guns from The Rooster Bait and Tackle last August. He’ll also serve three years of supervised release.

Prosecutors say Keifer used a crowbar to force the back door of The Rooster open and take the 24 handguns. Keifer and Zephaniah Thompson then ground the serial numbers off several of them and traded at least two of them for meth.

Thompson has already been sentenced to 4 years, 8 months in prison.