GREENEVILLE, TENN. – A former detective was sentenced Monday in federal court to seven years and six months in prison for drug dealing and using a firearm while trafficking in narcotics, officials said
James Finley Holt, 59, of Cosby, had plead guilty to distribution of controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, officials said.
Authorities said an undercover investigation from April 2014 through July 2014 indicated that Holt bought stolen property and sold it from convenience stores he owned with his wife in Newport Tenn.
He also distributed hydrocodone and swapped the drug for stolen property. Many of the transactions occurred while Holt was on duty as a detective captain with the Newport Police Department, officials said.
In July 2014, authorities said Holt was arrested and search warrants were executed by Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and other agencies, both at his residence and the Newport Police Department.
Evidence seized included pill bottles, pills, and a short barrel shotgun, officials said.
U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said, “Holt illegally used his badge and the trust placed in him for personal gain. While the quantity of drugs he distributed was small by federal prosecution standards, his conviction was important because he victimized the community he swore to protect.”
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn stated, “This case was a blemish on the law enforcement community and those who do their best to uphold the law and maintain transparency. As a result of this investigation, it is my hope that we can all move forward and work harder to maintain public trust.”