Macomb County Man Sends More Than 400 Emails Threatening to Kill Federal Judge

DETROIT – A man faces charges for allegedly sending more than 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 October 22, 2024, the email accounts of the United States Attorney’s Office Office for Civil Rights and the Government Accountability Office received a series of emails after law enforcement executed search warrants in Holloway.

Civil Rights Email received over 400 emails from two email accounts. The FBI believes that Holloway had control of the two email accounts and was the author of the messages.

The threatening emails included messages such as: “But can’t judges be killed? Says who? The founding of this country killed hundreds of corrupt judges” and “Yes, I am going to kill (the federal judge) in a court of law.”

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

Why did authorities execute search warrants?

The FBI has been investigating Holloway since September 2024 for a possible violation of federal firearms law.

On September 27, 2024, the FBI received an anonymous tip that Holloway purchased more than $3,000 worth of tactical items on Amazon. The articles included the following:

• Firearms accessories, such as rifle mounts and scopes.

• tactical vest

• night vision optics

• Knife sheath

• Various large wheeled bags

• helmet light

• gopro camera

• Knee/Elbow Pads

The items were delivered to a Staples in Brighton. According to the informant, a password was needed to pick up the items.

Holloway picked up the packages the same day the FBI received the information. They were able to identify Holloway through security footage when he entered the store and left with a cart full of packages.

The FBI agent who filed the affidavit confirmed that the man in the security footage was Holloway because they spoke with him in person for an extended period in a parking lot where Holloway’s registered car would frequently park. The interaction was captured by authorities with a body camera.

During Holloway’s interaction with authorities, he was standing behind his car, holding what appeared to be a tactical vest. Inside the vehicle there were other dark-colored objects.

Police asked Holloway, who was convicted of a federal firearms charge in 2019, if he knew he couldn’t carry weapons because he was a felon. He told police it was “not the law” and “not true” that convicted felons were not allowed to have firearms. He went on to say that he had the right to have firearms under the “supreme law.”

After the interaction with Holloway, police followed him as he traveled through Livonia, Northville and Novi. Police said he drove approximately 10 miles per hour below the posted speed limit, made multiple U-turns and then immediately entered and exited several closed businesses without exiting his car. Police said their actions were consistent with counter-surveillance.

On October 1, 2024, shortly after midnight, Holloway was seen approaching the front door of his parents’ home. He tried to cover the camera lens with gum, rang the doorbell and called “Mr. Holloway.” The owners didn’t realize this was happening until after seeing these images the next morning.

Holloway’s parents told police they had not spoken to him in years.

Holloway was seen on the doorbell camera wearing a hoodie, mask and gloves. Authorities said that although it was difficult to identify the person in the images, the items they were carrying were consistent with items Holloway purchased on Amazon.

On October 18, 2024, police executed federal search warrants in this investigation in Holloway. He lived in two hotels in Warren and had no permanent residence.

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

Condemnation 2019

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

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 was out to get him. She told police that Holloway was going to kill her and beat the truth out of her. The mother also reported that Holloway kicked her in the stomach. He continued ranting about killing people and went upstairs. Holloway returned downstairs and was holding 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 he went into her room and threw a roll of duct tape at her, saying 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 dressed all in black and police arrested him.

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

Holloway was convicted of carrying a concealed weapon in January 2021.