Syracuse Man Gets Tough 75-Month Sentence for Fentanyl, Gun Sales
Federal prosecutors said Lomere Holliman repeatedly sold fentanyl, firearms, ammunition and high-capacity magazines in Syracuse.
A Syracuse man received a 75-month federal prison sentence after admitting that he repeatedly sold fentanyl and firearms in the city. Lomere Holliman, 23, also acknowledged using gun sales to support his drug-trafficking operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
U.S. District Judge Elizabeth C. Coombe sentenced Holliman on July 8, 2026. The Justice Department announced the sentence on July 28.
The 75-month term equals six years and three months in federal prison. Holliman must also serve four years under federal supervision after his release.
Holliman admitted selling fentanyl and firearms
As part of an earlier guilty plea, Holliman admitted that he sold fentanyl, firearms and related equipment in Syracuse between March and September 2025.
Federal prosecutors said the illegal activity included repeated sales of:
- Fentanyl
- Firearms
- Ammunition
- High-capacity magazines
Holliman also admitted that he used firearm sales to help develop his drug-trafficking business. The Justice Department described the guns and drug distribution as connected activities rather than unrelated offenses.
The federal announcement did not identify the number of transactions, the amount of fentanyl sold or the number of firearms involved. Those details should not be assumed without additional court records.
Officials call combined sales a serious public threat
First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said Holliman’s conduct showed a “blatant disregard for public safety.”
“When firearms are used to support drug trafficking, the threat to public safety is amplified,” ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan DiGirolamo said.
Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin said the case demonstrated cooperation among the Syracuse Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and federal prosecutors.
The officials said cases involving both guns and fentanyl can create overlapping dangers. Illegally trafficked firearms may contribute to violence, while fentanyl can cause fatal overdoses even when users do not realize it is present in a drug supply.
Still, the Justice Department’s announcement did not accuse Holliman of causing a specific shooting or overdose death. His confirmed conduct involved possessing and distributing fentanyl, selling firearms and carrying a gun during his drug offenses.
Why fentanyl remains a major concern
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid. Illegally manufactured fentanyl is frequently found in counterfeit pills and other drugs, sometimes without a buyer’s knowledge.
National overdose deaths have fallen, but fentanyl and related synthetic opioids remain a serious public health threat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 47,735 overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone in 2024. That category includes fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and some other synthetic opioids.
The figure represented a major improvement. The age-adjusted death rate involving those synthetic opioids declined by 35.6% from 2023 to 2024, according to the CDC’s final mortality report.
More recent preliminary data predicted 68,641 total drug overdose deaths nationwide during the 12 months ending in February 2026. That was a 12.1% decline from the previous 12-month period, the CDC reported.
Those declines are encouraging, but tens of thousands of deaths still represent a national crisis. Progress does not eliminate the need for prevention, treatment, naloxone access and targeted enforcement against people who illegally distribute dangerous drugs.
Gun trafficking adds another layer of risk
Firearms can increase the danger surrounding drug trafficking. Guns may be used to protect illegal inventory, enforce debts or intimidate others. Firearms transferred outside lawful channels can also become difficult for investigators to trace.
High-capacity magazines raise additional concerns because they allow a firearm to discharge more rounds before reloading. However, the federal release did not specify the models or capacities of the magazines Holliman sold.
ATF investigated Holliman’s case with help from the Syracuse Police Department’s Intelligence Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica N. Carbone prosecuted it.
Sarcone, DiGirolamo and Rusin jointly announced the sentencing.
Case prosecuted through Project Safe Neighborhoods
Federal prosecutors handled the case through Project Safe Neighborhoods, commonly called PSN. The Justice Department describes PSN as a nationwide program that brings law enforcement agencies and community organizations together to address violent crime.
The program emphasizes:
- Identifying the most serious local violence problems
- Using data to set focused enforcement priorities
- Coordinating federal, state and local investigations
- Supporting community-based violence prevention
- Measuring whether strategies reduce crime
The Justice Department says the central goal is reducing violent crime, not simply increasing arrests or prosecutions. Its current Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy includes enforcement, community trust, prevention programs and support for people returning from prison.
Enforcement is only part of the response
A federal prison sentence can remove an individual trafficker from the community and deter some illegal conduct. It cannot, by itself, resolve the conditions that drive addiction, gun violence or underground drug markets.
A complete public safety strategy also requires:
- Accessible substance-use treatment
- Naloxone distribution and overdose education
- Youth mentoring and employment opportunities
- Community violence-intervention programs
- Reentry support for people leaving prison
- Responsible gun storage and reporting of stolen firearms
Some critics argue that lengthy prison sentences do little to treat addiction or prevent another seller from entering the market. That concern deserves attention. At the same time, prosecutors maintain that focused enforcement is necessary when drug trafficking and illegal firearm sales occur together.
Both ideas can be true. Syracuse needs firm accountability for conduct that threatens lives, along with prevention and treatment programs that reduce the demand for illegal drugs and interrupt violence before it begins.
What happens next
Holliman will serve his 75-month federal sentence and then begin four years of supervision through the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office.
The case offers a clear reminder that fentanyl trafficking and illegal gun sales are closely connected public safety challenges. Residents can help by safely reporting suspected trafficking, learning how to recognize an overdose and carrying naloxone when appropriate.
Communities become safer when law enforcement, health professionals, families and neighborhood organizations work together. Sentencing closes one federal case. Preventing the next tragedy requires sustained local action.
