Amber Marie Gentapanan, a Sioux Falls resident, was sentenced on April 6 to two years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Ron Parsons and handed down by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange at the U.S. District Court.
The case highlights ongoing efforts to address gun violence and enforce federal laws prohibiting firearm possession by individuals with felony convictions. Gentapanan, age 28, will also serve three years of supervised release after her prison term and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Gentapanan was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2025 and pleaded guilty on January 12, 2026. The incident leading to her conviction occurred on March 25, 2025, when she possessed a semi-automatic pistol in Sioux Falls. According to authorities, she fled from law enforcement officers and discarded a bag containing the pistol before being apprehended. Her prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance in 2022 prohibited her from legally possessing any firearms.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative that brings together resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs. The operation aims to reduce violent crime and enhance community safety through collaboration between law enforcement agencies at all levels.
The investigation involved Homeland Security Investigations and the Sioux Falls Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Joyce prosecuted the case.
Gentapanan was immediately remanded into custody following sentencing.
