Cambria County Man Sentenced On Firearms Violations

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - A resident of Johnstown, Pa., has been sentenced in federal court to 68 months in prison and three years’ supervised release on his conviction of violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

United States District Judge Kim R. Gibson imposed the sentence on Montez Ricardo Holland, 54.

According to information presented to the court, on Jan. 4, 2013, Holland possessed a Sturm, Ruger & Company, Model P95DC, 9 mm semi-automatic pistol.  On Apr. 27, 1998, Holland was convicted in Lycoming County, Pa., of a drug trafficking crime, which is a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.  Federal law prohibits persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year from possessing firearms or ammunition.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Haines prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

Mr. Hickton commended the Laurel Highlands Resident Agency of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Cambria County Drug Task Force for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Holland.

According to Mr. Hickton, this case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and communities to prevent, deter and prosecute gun crime.