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

DETROIT – A man is facing charges for allegedly sending more than 400 emails to government agencies 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 Civil Rights and the Government Accountability Office received a series of emails after law enforcement executed search warrants on Holloway.

The Civil Rights email received more than 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 contained messages such as: “But judges can’t be killed? Says who? The founding of this country killed hundreds of corrupt judges,” and “Yes, I am going to kill (federal magistrate judge) in a court of law.”

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

Why law enforcement officers executed 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 had purchased more than $3,000 worth of tactical items on Amazon. The items include the following:

• Firearm accessories such as gun rests and scopes

• Tactical vest

• Night vision optics

• Knife holster

• Several large roller bags

• Helmet light

• Go-Pro camera

• Knee/elbow pads

The items were delivered to Staples in Brighton. According to the tipster, a password was required to retrieve 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 filed the affidavit confirmed that the man in the security footage was Holloway because they spoke to him in person over an extended period of time in a parking lot where Holloway’s registered car would regularly park. The interaction was captured by police on a body-worn camera.

During Holloway’s interaction with law enforcement, he stood behind his car, holding what appeared to be a tactical vest. There were more dark-colored objects in the car.

Police asked Holloway, who was convicted of a federal firearms charge in 2019, if he knew he wasn’t allowed to carry guns because he was a felon. He told police it was “not the law” and “not true” that convicted felons could not have firearms. He continued to say it was his right to have firearms according to the “supreme law.”

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

On October 1, 2024, just after midnight, Holloway was seen approaching the front door of his parents’ home. He tried to cover the camera lens with chewing gum, rang the doorbell and shouted, “Mr. Hollow.” The homeowners only knew this was happening after viewing this footage 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 hood, face mask and gloves. Law enforcement officials said that while it was difficult to identify the person in the images, the items the person was wearing were consistent with the items Holloway purchased on Amazon.

On October 18, 2024, police executed federal search warrants in this investigation of 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 was provided with copies of the search warrants and receipts for the seized items upon completion of the search. 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 who threatened to kill Holloway.

2019 Persuasion

The FBI learned early in the investigation that Holloway had been convicted of concealed carry 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 out to get him. She told police that Holloway would kill her and beat the truth out of her. The mother also reported being kicked in the stomach by Holloway. He continued to rant about killing people and went upstairs. Holloway returned downstairs holding what his mother believed was a gun. Holloway then went outside and fired a gun in the garden of the family home.

Holloway’s brother told police he went into his room and threw a roll of duct tape at him, 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 wearing an all-black outfit, and police arrested him.

Holloway’s father told police a month prior to the incident that one of his guns was missing.

Holloway was convicted in January 2021 of carrying concealed weapons.