Maycomb County man sends more than 400 emails threatening to kill federal judge

DETROIT – A man has been indicted for allegedly sending more than 400 emails to government agencies threatening to kill a federal judge.

Emails with threats

James Nelson Holloway II, 33, is charged with federal crimes after threatening to kill a federal judge.

On October 22, 2024, the email accounts of the US Attorney’s Office for Civil Rights and the Government Accountability Office received a series of emails after law enforcement executed search warrants for Holloway.

Civil Rights email received over 400 emails from two email accounts. The FBI believes Holloway controlled both email accounts and was the author of the messages.

The threatening emails included messages such as: “But judges can’t be killed? Who says? The foundation of this country has killed hundreds of corrupt judges,” and “Yes, I’m going to kill (a federal magistrate judge) in court.”

The FBI believes Holloway wrote the messages because emails from both accounts began with the words, “This is James Holloway and USA Supercenters Corporation.”

Why did the police conduct a search?

The FBI has been investigating Holloway since September 2024 for possible violations of federal firearms laws.

On September 27, 2024, the FBI received an anonymous tip that Holloway had purchased more than $3,000 worth of tactical gear from Amazon. Items included the following:

• Firearm accessories such as rifle mounts and scopes

• Tactical vest

• Night vision optics

• Knife holster

• Several large bags

• Helmet lighting

• Go-Pro camera

• Knee pads/elbow pads

The items were delivered to Staples in Brighton. According to the informant, a password was required to retrieve the items.

Holloway picked up the packages the same day the FBI received the information. They were able to identify Holloway on video as he entered the store and left with a cart full of packages.

An FBI agent who gave an affidavit confirmed that the man in the security camera footage was Holloway because they had spoken with him in person for an extended period of time in the parking lot where Holloway’s registered car was often parked. The interaction was filmed by law enforcement agencies on a body camera.

During Holloway’s interaction with law enforcement, he was standing behind his vehicle holding what appeared to be a tactical vest. There were several other dark-colored objects in the interior of the car.

Police asked Holloway, who was convicted of federal firearms charges in 2019, if he knew he couldn’t carry a gun because he was a felon. He told police it was “illegal” and “untrue” that convicted felons were not allowed to own firearms. He continued to argue that it was his “higher law” right to own a firearm.

After speaking with Holloway, police followed him as he traveled through Livonia, Northville and Novi. Police said he drove about 10 miles per hour in the posted speed limit, made several U-turns, then entered and immediately exited various closed businesses without getting out of the car. Police said his actions were consistent with a counter investigation.

On October 1, 2024, just after midnight, Holloway was seen walking up to the front door of his parents’ home. He tried to cover the camera lens with chewing gum, rang the doorbell and called “Mr.” Holloway”. The homeowners didn’t know it was happening until they saw the video the next morning.

Holloway’s parents told police they hadn’t spoken to him in years.

Holloway was seen on the doorbell camera wearing a hood, mask and gloves. Law enforcement said that while it was difficult to identify the person in the footage, the items she was wearing matched items Holloway had purchased on Amazon.

On October 18, 2024, police executed federal search warrants in the Holloway investigation. He lived in two Warren hotels and had no fixed abode.

Police searched Holloway, a second hotel room, his car and trailer. During the search, they found firearm accessories, but no firearms. Holloway obtained copies of search warrants and receipts for items seized after the search was completed. The search warrants were signed by two U.S. Magistrate Judges of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan — one of the judges Holloway threatened to kill.

2019 Criminal record

The FBI learned early in the investigation that Holloway had a 2019 conviction for carrying a concealed weapon.

According to police reports, Holloway’s mother called 911 and said he was angry with her and accused her of being part of a group that wanted to take him over. She told police that Holloway was going to kill her and force the truth out of her. The mother also reported that Holloway kicked her in the stomach. He continued to talk about killing people and went upstairs. Holloway came back downstairs and was holding what his mother thought was a gun. Holloway then went outside and fired a shotgun into the backyard of the family home.

Holloway’s brother told police that Holloway came into his room and threw a roll of duct tape at him, saying they might need it. Holloway left the room, at which point the mother said he had a gun.

Holloway was seen running in a nearby area dressed in all black and police arrested him.

Holloway’s father told police that one of his guns had gone missing a month before the incident.

In January 2021, Holloway was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon.