Trending
A Fort Dodge man convicted of several felonies who led police on two high speed pursuits is heading to federal prison.
Ray S. Hollers, 31, was sentenced Tuesday to 18 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa.
Federal prosecutors reported that on March 20, Hollers pleaded guilty to:
Conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine
Two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of pure methamphetamine
Possession of firearms by a prohibited person
Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
Hollers was prohibited from possessing firearms because he had been convicted of several state felonies in 2017, 2018 and 2020.
The first of the recent pursuits involving Hollers occurred on Feb. 7, 2023. Early that morning a Webster County sheriff's deputy attempted to stop him for a traffic violation in the 900 block of South 17th Street. Hollers refused to stop and a pursuit ensued, the U.S. Attorny's Office reported. Federal prosecutors said the chase reached speeds of over 100 mph.
During that chase, Hollers drove over stop-sticks, which flattened his tires. His vehicle came to a stop at Eighth Avenue North and Seventh Street.
Federal prosecutors said that law enforcement officers searched his car and found more than 600 grams of methamphetamine, more than $1,800 in cash and ammunition.
On Dec. 5, 2024, officers tried to stop Holler's 2012 Chevrolet Impala in the 100 block of Avenue O West after observing him selling drugs. Hollers again refused to stop and went north on U.S. Highway 169 at speeds of up to 118 mph, prosecutors said. During the chase, officers saw Hollers throw something believed to be methamphetamine out of the car.
That chase ended when Hollers hit a concrete highway median.
Inside his car that day officers found one pound of methamphetamine, drug distribution items, two guns and more than $4,000.
That same day officers searched a property connected to Hollers and found 75 grams of pure methamphetamine and a digital scale.
Hollers remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal's Service until he can be transported to a federal prison.