A Virginia man has been sentenced to 180 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, as announced by U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger. Djavon Holland, 37, was found guilty on April 15, 2024, by a federal jury on two counts related to the case. The trial took place before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch in Trenton federal court following evidence presented at trial and details from court documents. In August 2021, law enforcement officials learned of Holland's involvement in narcotics trafficking within Virginia and New Jersey. On August 12, 2021, a confidential source working with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office arranged a meeting between Holland and another confidential source affiliated with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During multiple encounters, Holland traveled to New Jersey to sell fentanyl to ATF’s confidential source.
Apart from the prison sentence, Judge Kirsch also ordered four years of supervised release for Holland.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger acknowledged the efforts of special agents from the ATF under Special Agent in Charge L.C. Cheeks Jr., along with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office led by Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer for their roles in investigating this case leading up to sentencing.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan N. Linares and Jenny Chung from the Criminal Division office in Newark.
Holland represented himself during proceedings but had Michael Alexander Thomas Esq., an Assistant Federal Public Defender based in Newark as standby counsel.