A University City man has pleaded guilty to illegally selling firearms and distributing heroin.
Paul Joseph Holdy, 39, will be sentenced Nov. 17 by U.S. District Court Judge Janis Sammartino in San Diego.
His plea agreement says the maximum sentence is 35 years in federal prison, although federal sentencing guidelines recommend an unspecified lesser sentence. Acting U.S. Attorney Alana Robinson said 19 firearms including short barrel machine guns were sold to undercover agents by Holdy.
Holdy signed a forfeiture agreement giving up all guns and ammunition he had in his possession up to his May 10 arrest by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in a joint investigation.
Holdy was convicted of selling an illegal drug in 2009. As a felon, Holdy could not legally possess or sell firearms.
He is accused of possessing a firearm that has traveled across interstate commerce on Feb. 23. He is also charged with selling one ounce of black tar heroin for $1,000 on June 23, 2016, to an undercover agent in a fast food parking lot in Clairemont.
Holdy allegedly sold a silencer to the same person who bought the heroin, according to court records. Some of the weapon sales occurred at his home on Angell Place, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The weapons include AR-15 type short barrel rifles or machine guns, and seven Glock-style pistols. No manufacturers markings or serial numbers were found on 18 of the weapons.
Holdy told the undercover agent that it takes him longer to manufacture machine guns because necessary parts are not easily available. He described one machine gun as “fun to shoot and works really well,” according to court records.