Hamilton, Hamilton, Mercer County, Trenton

A Hamilton, NJ Man Admits To Possessing Firearm Loaded With 30 Rounds Of Ammunition In Furtherance Of Drug Trafficking Crime

Armond Holloway, 44, of Hamilton, New Jersey, 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.

November 19, 2020

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A Hamilton, New Jersey, man today admitted possessing a handgun in furtherance of a drug crime, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced today.

Armond Holloway, 44, of Hamilton, New Jersey, 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.

U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Charlie J. Patterson in Newark; the New Jersey State Parole Board, under the direction of Chairman Samuel J. Plumeri Jr.; and the New Jersey State Police, under the direction of Col. Patrick J. Callahan, with the investigation leading to today’s plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elisa T. Wiygul and Michelle S. Gasparian of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton.

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Defense counsel: Lisa Van Hoeck Esq. and Brian P. Reilly Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defenders, Trenton

Armond Holloway, 44, of Hamilton, New Jersey, 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.

2017 NJ State Police News Release here:

State Police work with State Parole to Arrest Hamilton Man

Home visit nets more than $86,000 worth of Heroin and Assault Weapon

Hamilton Township, Mercer County – The New Jersey State Police and New Jersey State Parole Board have arrested Armond Holloway, 41, of Hamilton Township, N.J. for various drug and weapons offenses.

On Tuesday, August 1, 2017 the New Jersey State Parole Board worked cooperatively with members of the State Police Gangs and Organized Crime Central to conduct a home visit of Holloway. During the home visit, investigators determined that Holloway was in possession of heroin and an assault weapon. As a result, Holloway was arrested and detectives seized more than 430 bricks of heroin, a loaded assault weapon with a silencer, and $14,180 cash.

New Jersey State Parole charged Holloway with the following:

  • Possession of heroin with the intent to distribute
  • Possession of heroin
  • Possession of heroin with the intent to distribute with 1,000 feet of a public school
  • Possession of heroin with the intent to distribute with 500 feet of a public park
  • Possession of an assault weapon
  • Unlawful possession of a handgun
  • Possession of a handgun during a drug offense
  • Possession of a high-capacity magazine
  • Possession of a handgun silencer
  • Possession of a defaced handgun
  • Certain persons not to possess handguns

Armond Holloway was lodged in Mercer County Jail on a no bail warrant.

Charges are mere accusations and the suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.