Convicted Felon Sentenced For Possessing A Firearm With An Obliterated Serial Number

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that William Thomas Holland III, 31, of Norfolk, Va., was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Tom Stagg to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony and for possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.  He pleaded guilty July 11, 2013.
           
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, on June 23, 2012, members of the 2nd Security Forces Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base (BAFB) noticed a vehicle parked near a wooded area on BAFB.  Upon looking through the window of the vehicle, officers saw a large knife, marijuana and evidence of marijuana use.  Holland then walked from the woods and approached the vehicle and stated that he owned the vehicle.  The defendant was detained and a warrant was obtained to search the vehicle to retrieve the knife and marijuana.  Holland was the civilian spouse of a member of the military who lived on BAFB.  A second search warrant was obtained to search Holland’s residence on BAFB.  A loaded .357 caliber revolver was found along with other items.  The serial number on the firearm was obliterated.  Holland admitted to possessing the firearm, knowing that the serial number was obliterated on the firearm and that he had a prior felony conviction prohibiting him from possessing the firearm.  He told law enforcement agents that he had bought the ammunition for the firearm from a local sporting goods store.

“Barksdale Air Force Base is one of the largest Air Force bases in the world and is home of the 8th Air Force and B-52H bombers,” Finley stated. “The safety of the military and its civilian protection is a priority of our office.  Vigilant action by Security Forces and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) agents resulted in the arrest, conviction and imprisonment of this felon.  It is a testament to the great working relationship between the military investigative personnel and the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.”        

Members of the 2nd Security Forces Squadron, the AFOSI at Barksdale Air Force Base and the Shreveport Office of the ATF investigated the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted this case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.  Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide program started in 2001 designed to reduce violence by aggressively enforcing existing federal firearms laws.