McAlester Resident Sentenced To 92 Months For Possessing Stolen Firearms

MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA - The United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Carl Ray Holland, age 35, of McAlester, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 92 months in prison for one count of Possession of Stolen Firearms.

The charges arose from an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

On November 9, 2022, Holland pleaded guilty to the charge. According to investigators, on August 1, 2022, ATF agents investigating the burglary of a local firearms business received information about Holland's possible involvement. Agents approached Holland, who denied being involved in the burglary but gave consent to search his residence for the missing firearms. During the search, agents recovered eight of the missing firearms hidden in Holland's refrigerator.

"Enforcing federal firearm regulations is a crucial part of protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and ensuring public safety," said United States Attorney Christopher J. Wilson. "Mr. Holland's attempt to jeopardize public safety by possessing firearms stolen from a licensed dealer is a crime deserving of this sentence."

"No one likes a thief, especially one that steals firearms from lawful owners. Mr. Holland tried to be sneaky and play hide and seek with the police. Unfortunately for him, most of the time we find what we are looking for. I'd like to thank all those involved in bringing him to justice, especially the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Because of their efforts, Mr. Holland will now have 92 months in the Federal penitentiary to think of better hiding spots than a refrigerator," stated ATF Dallas Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey C. Boshek II.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing. Holland will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

Assistant United States Attorney Edith A. Singer represented the United States.