PIERRE, (KCCR) — A Lower Brule has been sentenced to just over two years in federal prison for having a gun while using drugs. U-S Attorney Alison Ramsdell says 28 year-old Stephen Zapata was sentenced by U-S District Judge Eric Schulte to two years and three months in federal custody to be followed by three years of supervised release. Zapata was indicted on a charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person in September of 2024 and pleaded guilty in late January. Ramsdell says Zapata was pulled over by Lower Brule Tribal police in March of 2024. Officers knew of an outstanding arrest warrant for Zapata. While searching Zapata’s vehicle Tribal police located three baggies of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and an A-R style rifle with two magazines loaded with 48 rounds of ammunition. Zapata admitted to being a methamphetamine user and submitted a urine sample that tested positive for meth. Zapata was taken into the custody of the U-S Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence.
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