R'Mani Jy'Mere Holloway, a 26-year-old resident of Gaston, South Carolina, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison. This follows his guilty plea to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The court was presented with evidence that on February 9, 2023, deputies from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department arrested Holloway on outstanding state warrants related to probation violations. During the arrest, authorities found a loaded .45 caliber handgun, 16.12 grams of MDMA (N,N-Dimethylpentylone), ammunition, and digital scales in Holloway's vehicle. Further investigation led to the discovery of additional ammunition and gang-related artwork in his hotel room.
Holloway's criminal record includes previous convictions for third-degree burglary, third-degree domestic violence, public disorderly conduct, and discharging a firearm into a dwelling. At the time of his arrest in February 2023, he was serving probation for another firearm-related conviction. Due to these prior felony convictions, Holloway is prohibited by law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger-Lewis handed down the sentence of 60 months imprisonment followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. The federal system does not offer parole.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy was launched under PSN with core principles including fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Columbia Field Office along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.