DETROIT – A man is facing charges for allegedly sending over 400 emails to government entities threatening to kill a federal judge.
Threatening emails
James Nelson Holloway II, 33, is accused of committing federal crimes after threatening to kill a federal judge.
On Oct. 22, 2024, the United States Attorney’s Office Civil Rights and the Government Accountability Office email accounts received a series of emails after law enforcement executed search warrants on Holloway.
The Civil Rights email received over 400 emails from two email accounts. The FBI believes Holloway had control of the two email accounts and was the author of the messages.
The threatening emails included messages such as, “But judges can‘t be killed? Says who? The foundation of this country killed hundreds of corrupt judges,” and, “Yes, I’m going to kill [federal magistrate judge] in a court of law.”
The FBI believes Holloway wrote the messages as the emails from both accounts began with, “This is James Holloway and USA Supercenters Corporation.”
Why law enforcement executed search warrants
The FBI has been investigating Holloway since September 2024 for a possible federal firearm law violation.
On Sept. 27, 2024, the FBI received an anonymous tip that Holloway bought over $3,000 worth of tactical items on Amazon. The items included the following:
- Firearm accessories such as rifle mounts and rifle scopes
- Tactical vest
- Night vision optic
- Knife holster
- Multiple large rolling bags
- Helmet light
- Go-Pro camera
- Knee/Elbow pads
The items were delivered to a Staples in Brighton. According to the tipster, a password was required to pick up the items.
Holloway picked up the packages the same day the FBI received the tip. They were able to identify Holloway through security footage as he entered the store and exited with a cart full of packages.
The FBI agent who submitted the affidavit confirmed the man in the security footage was Holloway because they spoke with him in person for an extended period at a parking lot where Holloway’s registered car would frequently park. The interaction was captured by law enforcement on a body-worn camera.
During Holloway’s interaction with law enforcement, he was standing behind his car, holding what appeared to be a tactical vest. Several other dark-colored items were inside the car.
Police asked Holloway, who was convicted of a federal firearm charge in 2019, if he knew he could not have any weapons on him since he was a felon. He told police that it “was not the law” and “not true” that convicted felons were not allowed to have firearms. He continued to say it was his right to have firearms under the “supreme law.”
Following the interaction with Holloway, police followed him around as he traveled through Livonia, Northville and Novi. Police said he drove about 10 miles per hour under the posted speed limit, made multiple U-turns and then entered and immediately exited various closed businesses without getting out of his car. Police said his actions were consistent with counter-surveillance.
On Oct. 1, 2024, just after midnight, Holloway was seen approaching the front door of his parent‘s home. He tried to cover the camera lens with chewing gum, rang the doorbell, and called out for “Mr. Holloway.” The homeowners were unaware this was happening until after viewing this footage the next morning.
Holloway‘s parents told police they hadn’t spoken to him in years.
Holloway was seen in the doorbell camera wearing a hood, facemask and gloves. Law enforcement said that although it was difficult to identify the person in the footage, the items the person was wearing were consistent with the items Holloway bought on Amazon.
On Oct. 18, 2024, police executed federal search warrants in this investigation on Holloway. He was living in two hotels in Warren and did not have a permanent residence.
Police searched Holloway, the second hotel room, his car and his trailer. They found firearm accessories during the search but no firearms. Holloway was given copies of the search warrants and receipts for the items seized after completing the search. The search warrants were signed by two U.S. magistrate judges for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan—one of the judges Holloway threatened to kill.
2019 Conviction
The FBI learned early in the investigation Holloway had a concealed carry weapon conviction in 2019.
According to police reports, Holloway’s mother called 911 and said he was angry at her and accused her of being part of a group that was out to get him. She told police Holloway was going to kill her and beat the truth out of her. The mother also reported she was kicked in the stomach by Holloway. He continued to rant about killing people and went upstairs. Holloway returned downstairs and held something his mother thought was a gun. Holloway then went outside and fired a gun in the yard of the family home.
Holloway‘s brother told police that he went into his room and threw a roll of duct tape at him, saying that they might need it. Holloway left the room, and that‘s when the mother said he had a gun.
Holloway was seen running through a nearby area wearing an all-black outfit, and police arrested him.
Holloway’s father told police one of his handguns was missing a month prior to the incident.
Holloway was convicted of a carrying concealed weapon charge in January 2021.
