United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – A 41-year-old convicted felon will be returning to federal prison for his role in a 17-kilogram cocaine trafficking conspiracy, announced Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Daniel C. Comeaux and Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Marcus Donell Hollowell aka "Red" pleaded guilty August. 5.

Today, U.S. District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos sentenced him to serve a 120-month sentence to be immediately followed by five years of supervised release. At the hearing, the court heard additional statements that described Hollowell’s role in the conspiracy and his felony convictions for trafficking cocaine and heroin possession. Judge Ramos noted the sentence was an adequate deterrent.

Between May 2020 and May 2021, Hollowell was involved in a conspiracy with others to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine between Corpus Christi and Ft. Myers, Florida. He helped coordinate cocaine or currency with other co-conspirators or sources of supply. 

Authorities seized over $250,000 on July 16, 2020.

At the time of Hollowell’s arrest in May, authorities discovered a loaded .44 caliber revolver, additional cocaine, meth, ecstasy and U.S. currency in his residence.

Hollowell has been and will remain in custody pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future. 

Co-conspirators Adan Rivera, 37, Corpus Christi, was previously sentenced to 135 months, while Rudy Reyna, 39, of Robstown, Texas, was ordered to serve 121 months.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (Corpus Christi and El Paso sectors) conducted the investigation with assistance from Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety and Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics Vice Investigative Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Reid Manning prosecuted the case.