Senior U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan has sentenced Ronald Holland, a 46-year-old resident of Jacksonville, to 18 years and 9 months in federal prison. Holland was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $1,500, representing proceeds from the offense, along with multiple firearms seized during the investigation. Holland had entered a guilty plea on March 26, 2024.

Court documents reveal that between 2020 and 2023, Holland managed a drug trafficking organization (DTO) responsible for distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Jacksonville. The DTO sourced bulk narcotics from Mexico-based suppliers who transported them through Houston, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia before reaching Jacksonville. Holland directed Annette Jones and Janice Strong to distribute these drugs from two houses he operated on Verbena Road in Jacksonville.

In 2022, federal agents collaborated with local law enforcement officers to investigate the activities of all three individuals involved in the DTO. Between December 2022 and March 2023, agents conducted controlled purchases of pure methamphetamine directly from Strong at one house on Verbena Road. During this period, they also purchased pure methamphetamine and fentanyl directly from Jones. Agents observed Holland re-supplying both Jones and Strong while accompanying Jones during drug transactions. Heavy foot traffic at the two houses further indicated ongoing drug trafficking activity.

On March 15, 2023, search warrants were executed at Holland's apartment off Harts Road as well as the two houses on Verbena Road by federal agents and local law enforcement officers. Seizures included approximately 680 grams of cocaine, 173 grams of pure methamphetamine, 130 grams of fentanyl at Holland’s apartment; additionally found were assorted drug paraphernalia and ammunition. At the Verbena Road locations approximately another seizure consisted of about 415 grams of pure methamphetamine along with other items such as firearms including pistols rifles extended magazines assorted ammunition bulletproof vest totaling $1'500 dollars

The joint investigation concluded that throughout this conspiracy operation led by him over fifty kilograms worth pure methamphetamines five kilograms fentanyls plus six hundred eighty gram cocaine distributed overall In related case Annette Jones pled guilty conspiracy distribution same amount received ten year sentence Janice Strong indicted pending trial Indictment merely formal charge defendant committed violations every presumed innocent unless proven guilty

This extensive investigation involved multiple agencies including Drug Enforcement Administration Homeland Security Investigations Bureau Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives U S Marshals Service Customs Border Protection alongside local authorities like Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Nassau County Sheriff’s Office Assistant United States Attorney Aakash Singh is prosecuting case part Project Safe Neighborhoods PSN initiative aims reduce violent crime gun violence make neighborhoods safer launched May twenty-sixth twenty-one strategy strengthens core principles fostering trust legitimacy communities supporting community-based organizations preventing violence setting focused strategic enforcement priorities measuring results