Zachary T. Lee Acting United States Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia
A Roanoke man, Janike Dunbar Holt, 29, has pled guilty in federal court to charges of failing to register as a convicted sex offender and making false statements. Known by several aliases, including "Nike" and "Janike Tagovailoa," Holt was previously convicted in North Carolina for taking indecent liberties with a child.
Holt's legal troubles began after his release from custody in October 2018. While he initially complied with registration requirements, he failed to report an address change in June 2022. During this period, Holt engaged in multiple relationships under false pretenses. He misled women into believing he had a child named Minor A, using this claim to solicit money supposedly for the child's support or custody.
In one instance, Holt stole $5,000 from Individual 2 after gaining access to her bank accounts under the guise of needing funds for diapers and travel expenses related to Minor A. The money was later recovered by Individual 2 from her bank.
Holt also deceived other individuals throughout 2022. He stole checks from Individual 3 and attempted to cash them with the help of Individuals 5, 7, and 8. One check was fraudulently made out for $225,000 as a "Lawsuit Refund," while another was marked for $75,000 as a "Lawsuit settlement."
Upon moving back to Virginia in February 2023 without registering as a sex offender as required by law, Holt continued his deceptive practices. He convinced several individuals that he had been recruited by Major League Baseball teams and used burner phones to impersonate team officials.
Eventually arrested on March 14, 2023, on an outstanding warrant from North Carolina, Holt made several false statements during an interview with a deputy marshal about his residency and movements between states.
The case is currently being investigated by the United States Marshals Service with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Scheff leading the prosecution.
