Pender County man sentenced to 14 years for drug trafficking related charges

NEW BERN, N.C. (WECT) - A judge sentenced Elmer “E.J.” Holmes Jr. to 175 months in prison on multiple drug charges involving at least 500 grams of cocaine and 100 grams of heroin.

A US Department of Justice release from March 17 states that E.J. was sentenced for, “(1) Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of Cocaine and 100 grams or more of Heroin and (2) Distribution of a quantity of Heroin and Cocaine and aiding and abetting another.”

Per documents and evidence from the proceedings, law enforcement concluded that E.J. worked with his cousin Johnny Holmes in 2019. E.J. received the drugs at Johnny’s house and would leave some for him. The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms bought drugs from Johnny between April and September of the same year. A Highway Patrol Officer later found the money used for a purchase after pulling over E.J. and Johnny.

In total, law enforcement determined that E.J. distributed over 3 kilograms of cocaine and over 100 grams of heroin between December 2018 and his arrest. E.J. also attempted to have Johnny write a letter saying he wasn’t involved, but his plan was unsuccessful.

E.J. was federally convicted twice previously: once in 2004 for possession of a firearm by a felon and once in 2006 for possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. He received active sentences of 21 months for the first and an an active sentence of 76 months in prison for the second.

Johnny was given a sentence of 56 months for distribution of heroin and cocaine.

U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan sentenced the two. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Servo prosecuted the case. Several agencies investigated the case, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigations, North Carolina Highway Patrol, the Pender, New Hanover, Onslow, and Duplin County Sheriff’s Offices, and the Jacksonville Police Department. The release also notes that the investigation is part of operation “Ahab’s Harpoon” from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation.