PEORIA, IL – Jamarcus J. Hollingsworth, 30, of Peoria, is heading to federal prison for nearly five years after agents found him armed with both a pistol and an illegally modified AR-15 rifle. Hollingsworth was sentenced today to 57 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm as a felon.
The case began in May 2023 when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents received intel that Hollingsworth, already a convicted felon, was not only in possession of firearms but actively attempting to sell a handgun on the streets of Peoria. The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force quickly moved in, arresting Hollingsworth at a hotel on West War Memorial Drive.
A search of Hollingsworth’s vehicle yielded a loaded pistol on the driver’s seat. But the real firepower was discovered during a subsequent raid of his residence. Agents seized an AR-15 rifle loaded with 28 rounds of live ammunition. Crucially, the rifle’s serial number had been deliberately obliterated, making it impossible to trace its origins – a clear indication of intent to conceal the weapon’s history.
Hollingsworth’s criminal history added another layer to the severity of the offense. At the time of his arrest, he was already on parole for a previous conviction for aggravated robbery, having served time in the Illinois Department of Corrections. This latest offense, committed while under supervision, sealed his fate with the federal court.
Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna, successfully argued for the 57-month sentence before Senior U.S. District Judge Joe B. McDade. While the maximum penalty for the crime is 15 years, the judge determined this length of imprisonment was appropriate given the circumstances. The Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force, a multi-agency collaboration including the ATF, Peoria Police Department, Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, Illinois Department of Corrections, and Illinois State Police, conducted the investigation.
The case is being touted as a success for Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. Officials claim PSN focuses on building trust with communities, supporting local anti-violence organizations, and strategically targeting enforcement efforts. Whether this program truly impacts street-level crime remains to be seen, but for now, one less illegally armed felon is off the streets of Peoria.
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