Sioux Falls Man Sentenced for December 2011 Burglary of Lewis Drug Pharmacy in Lennox

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Sioux Falls man charged with burglary involving controlled substances and possession of firearm in relation to a vrime of violence was sentenced on November 5, 2012, by Chief U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier. John Robert Graham, age 26, was sentenced to 27 months in prison on count one (burglary) and 120 months in prison on count two (possession of firearm) to be served consecutively, for a total of 147 months, five years of supervised release, a $200 assessment to the Victim Assistance Fund, and restitution in the total amount of $18,923.05.

Graham was indicted on two counts of burglary involving controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence by a federal grand jury on January 18, 2012.

On December 23, 2011, Graham attempted to burglarize a Lewis Drug Pharmacy in Lennox in an effort to steal controlled substances. Graham broke into a structure that contained multiple businesses, including the Lewis pharmacy, but mistakenly entered another business instead of the Lewis Drug Pharmacy. Local police were alerted when Graham triggered a silent alarm, and the Lennox chief of police arrived to investigate while Graham was still in the building. Upon seeing the police chief arrive, Graham discharged a firearm to break out a window so he could escape. He then ran out of the building, brandishing the firearm in the direction of the pursuing officer. Graham stole a vehicle that was parked nearby and led numerous pursuing officers on a high-speed chase that included open fields, Interstate 29, and numerous side streets. Ultimately, the chase ended in Sioux Falls at the intersection of West 12th Street and Petro Avenue, when Graham was stopped after colliding with a highway patrol cruiser.

Graham pled guilty to counts one and two of the indictment on August 16, 2012.

The investigation was conducted by the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department, Lennox Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Department, Tea Police Department, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Koliner prosecuted the case.

Graham was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.