Virginia Man Convicted for Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl in Virginia and Ocean County, NJ Areas

April 26, 2024

NEWARK, N.J. – A Virginia man was convicted for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger announced today.

Djavon Holland, 37, of Virginia, was convicted on April 15, 2024, by a federal jury of two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following trial before U.S. District Judge Peter G. Sheridan in Trenton federal court.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:

In August 2021, law enforcement officials received information that Holland was engaged in narcotics trafficking in or around the Virginia area and New Jersey. On Aug. 12, 2021, a confidential source working with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office contacted Holland to arrange a meeting with a confidential source working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). On several occasions, Holland drove to New Jersey and sold fentanyl to ATF’s confidential source.

The narcotics offenses each carry a minimum penalty of five years in prison, a maximum potential penalty of 40 years in prison, and a fine of $5 million. Sentencing will be scheduled at a later date.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the ATF, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, and the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer, with the investigation leading to the conviction.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan N. Linares and Jenny Chung of the Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.

24-151