A South Carolina man has been convicted of transporting a minor across state lines for sex, authorities said.
Michael Holland, 37, a former resident of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting a minor across state lines with intent that the minor engage in criminal sexual activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a).
Holland traveled from his home in South Carolina to Jackson, Tennessee in November 2024 to pick up a 12-year-old girl he had been communicating with over Snapchat for several months.
After picking her up, Holland drove the minor back to his home in South Carolina. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were ultimately able to locate the minor at Holland’s residence.
The minor told investigators that Holland performed several sexual acts on her after they arrived at his home. A search of Holland’s cell phone corroborated the minor’s statements, as investigators located several photographs and videos on Holland’s phone which showed him engaging in various sexual acts with the minor at his residence.
Holland is scheduled to be sentenced in September 2024. He is facing a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
“This case demonstrates the horrifying danger posed by predators who lure, exploit, and abuse innocent children using social media and the internet. It also demonstrates our federal law enforcement partners’ outstanding abilities to track offenders and rescue victims,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant. “We will vigorously seek significant punishment for this sick and despicable offender, and any others like him.”
The case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Columbia, South Carolina and Jackson, Tennessee.
Anyone with additional information as to this case or concerning Holland is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI or online at tips@fbi.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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