This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.

United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods announced that Joshua Hollum, 47, of Yankton, South Dakota, was sentenced on September 24, 2026, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine actual and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Hollum to a total of 180 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. After Hollum’s release from prison, he will begin a 5-year term of supervised release. 

On February 4, 2025, Nebraska State Troopers responded to reports of a hit and run on Interstate-80 in Buffalo County.  They found a silver vehicle with heavy front-end damage and smoke coming out of its engine. Hollum was identified as the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.  When directed to exit the vehicle, he had a loaded syringe sticking out of the breast pocket on his t-shirt.  The syringe was seized and the liquid inside tested positive for methamphetamine.

Troopers arrested Hollum and his vehicle was searched. Troopers found a backpack on the passenger seat, which contained methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, 9 clonazepam pills, 8 buprenorphine pills, marijuana, a loaded Sig Sauer P320 handgun with an extended magazine containing 17 9mm rounds, an additional extended magazine containing 30 9mm rounds, unused plastic bags, and a digital scale with drug residue on it.

The controlled substances were sent to the State Patrol Crime Laboratory.  The lab confirmed at least 400 grams of methamphetamine actual, 0.9 grams of cocaine, 1.2 grams of heroin, and 4 grams of fentanyl.

This case was investigated by the TRIDENT and CODE Task Forces which is made up of law enforcement agencies throughout a 22-county area in west-central/southwest Nebraska and includes the North Platte Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Ogallala Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).