Timber Theft Leads to Federal Prison and Over $30,000 in Restitution

OXFORD, MS - Kelly Holliday, 51, of Ripley, was sentenced in federal court following his conviction for transporting white oak timber, illegally removed from the Holly Springs National Forest in Tippah County, Mississippi.

The case was investigated by the United States Forest Service. After locating the cut site, agents determined that the snagged trees resulted in a total waste and created a hazard for anyone who visited that portion of the national forest. The illegally cut timber was illegally transported to a mill for processing in Tennessee. Agents were able to recover tree samples from that mill, which were then tied to the illegal cut site in Mississippi.

District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Holliday, who is required to make restitution to the U.S. Forest Service.

Scott Leary, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, noted the outstanding work of the U.S. Forest Service. Their dedicated agents maintain Mississippi's natural resources for future generations. The Tippah County Sheriff's Department and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks also provided valuable assistance in this investigation.

"The successful resolution of this case reflects the outstanding collaboration among the Tippah County Sheriff's Office, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service, each committed to protecting our Nation's natural resources. By combining investigative expertise, forensic timber analysis, and old-fashioned police work, we were able to hold Holliday accountable for his theft of America's valuable timber," said Forest Service Special Agent in Charge Aaron Dobson. "This outcome underscores that crime against public lands will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. We appreciate the dedication of United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Mississippi in achieving justice and securing restitution for the American people."

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Herzog Jr. prosecuted the case.