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United States Attorney John M. Bales
Eastern District of Texas
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United States Attorney John M. Bales
Eastern District of Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: DAVILYN WALSTON
MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2010 PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
http://www.justice.gov/usao/txe PHONE: (409) 839-2538 CELL: (409) 553-9881
JURY RETURNS GUILTY VERDICT IN EAST TEXAS
DRUG TRAFFICKING CASE
BEAUMONT, Texas – A 51-year-old Austell, Georgia man has been found guilty by a jury in a wide-scale drug trafficking conspiracy in the Eastern District of Texas announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales.
Brian Holmes was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, two counts of interstate travel in aid of racketeering, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana following a 4-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. The jury returned the verdict just before 10:00 am on Oct. 4, 2010.
According to information presented in court, on Sep. 15, 2007, federal agents stopped a vehicle registered to Holmes which contained over 6,000 pounds of marijuana. Further investigation revealed that Holmes was involved in a major marijuana distribution enterprise responsible for bringing thousands of pounds of marijuana through the Eastern District of Texas for distribution throughout the country. Holmes was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 15, 2009, and charged with drug trafficking violations.
Holmes faces from 10 years to Life in federal prison for the conspiracy charge, up to five years for each of the racketeering charges, and from five to 40 years for the possession charge. A sentencing date has not been set.
This case is being investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Coast Guard Criminal Investigative Service, the DEA, Orange County Sheriff's Office Drug Interdiction Unit, Texas Department of Public Safety, Jefferson County Crime Lab, U.S. Border Patrol, ATF, and the Allentown, PA Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke.
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