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Newark Man Receives 8-Year Sentence for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Possession
Newark Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Possessing Five Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking and Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine
Newark Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Possessing Five Firearms in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking and Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Cocaine.
NEWARK, N.J. – Khalid Holland, a 44-year-old Newark resident, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison following his guilty plea to charges related to drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals delivered the sentence, marking a significant conclusion to a case that underscores the ongoing fight against violent crime and drug distribution in Newark.
Holland's involvement in a drug distribution network, specifically dealing in fentanyl and cocaine around Newark's Lincoln Park area between June and September 2022, led to his arrest and subsequent guilty plea on May 15, 2023. The charges against Holland included possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.
The investigation, which drew on the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, uncovered a cache of 13 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition across various residences, with five firearms found in Holland’s residence. These weapons were acknowledged by Holland to have been possessed to advance his drug trafficking activities.
In addition to the prison term, Judge Neals has mandated three years of supervised release for Holland, further emphasizing the legal consequences of such criminal conduct.
The successful outcome of this case is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Newark Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, the Newark Police Department, and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. This partnership forms part of the Newark Violent Crime Initiative (VCI), a concerted effort launched in August 2017 by federal, state, and local authorities to combat violent crime within and around Newark.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Levin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s National Security Unit in Newark represented the government in this case. The sentencing of Holland is a testament to the ongoing commitment of the Newark VCI and its partner agencies to uphold public safety and dismantle networks that threaten the community's well-being through violent crime and drug trafficking.
