A Hamilton, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing a handgun in furtherance of a drug crime, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.
According to federal officials, Armond Holloway, 44, of Hamilton pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp via videoconference to Count Two of an indictment charging him with possession of a firearm in furtherance of possession with intent to distribute heroin.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On July 31, 2017, Holloway was on parole after having served a term of imprisonment.
Holloway’s parole officer received information from an anonymous source that Holloway, who had known gang affiliations, was in possession of a gun, 300-400 bricks of heroin, and a large amount of money at his residence.
On Aug. 1, 2017, the parole officer, along with other law enforcement officers, conducted a parole search of Holloway’s residence, where they recovered a Masterpiece Arms 9 mm firearm with an obliterated serial number, loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition, under Holloway’s bed.
They also found a barrel extension that fit the gun. Also recovered from Holloway’s bedroom was more than $14,000 in cash and more than 400 bricks of heroin from Holloway’s basement.
The count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime to which Holloway pleaded guilty carries a statutory mandatory minimum term of five years in prison, a maximum of life in prison, and a maximum fine of $250,000.
If accepted by the court at the time of sentencing, Holloway’s plea agreement would result in Holloway serving a stipulated total sentence between eight and 10 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 23, 2021.