SPOKANE, WA – Randy Coy James Holmes, 25, of Spokane, Washington, will spend more than two decades behind bars after a brazen attempt to rob an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) turned violent. Holmes was sentenced today to more than 20 years in federal prison after being convicted of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Federal Law Enforcement Officer in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), (b), and Discharge of a Firearm During a Crime of Violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).
The incident unfolded in November 2021, when Holmes, identified by authorities as a long-time Sureño gang member using the alias “Whispers,” sought a firearm with the intent to commit armed robberies. An ATF Confidential Informant tipped off the agency, leading to a planned sting operation. Holmes initially attempted to trade an ounce of methamphetamine for the weapon, demonstrating a clear disregard for legal tender and a preference for illicit currency.
According to court documents, the planned transaction took place in the Motel 6 parking lot. Holmes arrived in a Dodge Charger with two fellow Sureño gang members, Vincent Petrushkin and William Huntington Burns. Before exiting the vehicle, Burns allegedly provided Holmes with a 9mm semi-automatic Glock handgun, purportedly for “protection” during the deal. Holmes then entered the undercover agent’s car, ostensibly to complete the purchase.
The situation quickly escalated when the undercover agent, concerned by the presence of Holmes’s accomplices, suggested moving the transaction to a more secure location. That’s when Holmes allegedly pulled the 9mm handgun, pointed it directly at the agent’s head, and made explicit threats. “give it to me now… I’m gonna shoot you in the f’ing head ese … I ain’t f’ing playing with you,” Holmes reportedly screamed, according to evidence presented in court. The agent, fearing for his life, complied, directing Holmes to the firearm located in the back of the vehicle.
Holmes then exited the car to retrieve the weapon, at which point the agent ordered him to drop it. Instead, Holmes attempted to flee. The entire encounter was captured on a video recording device within the undercover agent’s vehicle, providing damning evidence of Holmes’s actions. U.S. District Court Judge Thomas O. Rice handed down the sentence, sending a clear message that attacks on law enforcement will not be tolerated. Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced the sentencing, stating the case underscores the dangers faced by federal agents.
The sentencing of Holmes marks a significant victory for the ATF and the Department of Justice. While Petrushkin and Burns were named as co-defendants, their individual fates were not immediately clear at the time of this report. Authorities continue to investigate the Sureño gang’s activities in the Spokane area, aiming to dismantle their criminal network and bring further perpetrators to justice.
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Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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