Man whose burglary spree showcased SF leniency receives ‘time served’ sentence for theft in federal court, says he is now a woman

October 28, 2024

A man whose notorious 2020 burglary spree came after an incautious San Francisco judge turned off his ankle monitor for the holidays, escaped with a ‘time served’ federal sentence today for more crimes.

Craig Holman admitted to stealing mail and using an unemployment benefit debit card obtained as a result to make purchases worth more than four thousand dollars.

He earlier pleaded guilty to ‘fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices’.

“She has a longer criminal history than I have ever seen,” said an astonished U.S. District Judge James Donato today. He had earlier been told that, after violating pretrial release terms, Holman was arrested by U.S. Marshals in July 2024 with more stolen mail and two credit cards in other peoples’ names.

“She has a longer criminal history than I have ever seen.”
U.S. District Judge James Donato

Despite expressing substantial misgivings he was ultimately persuaded to impose a time served term on condition that the defendant immediately enter a residential mental health program.

Holman, 57, now claims to be a woman called “CieCie” and was mostly referred to in court as ‘she’.

In December 2020 Holman’s ankle monitor was turned off to enable him to travel over the Christmas holidays. He took advantage of this freedom to commit more burglaries. Adding insult to injury, according to frustrated officers at SFPD’s Northern Station, the court also provided him with gift cards to give him a more enjoyable festive break.

Holman’s antics resulted in criticism of San Francisco Superior Court and its policy of providing gift cards to defendants. It transpired that the court was issuing thousands of dollars of gift cards each year from stores such as Target, Starbucks, Macys and Dominos Pizza.

“Holman has a long history of mail, identity and other theft,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy Garbers in a sentencing memorandum. “Her arrests and convictions during her adult life have been nearly constant. Despite this, she has continued to engage in criminal conduct.”

She asked the court to impose a five month sentence which would have seen Holman detained for a few more months. More cautious probation officials suggested that the court impose a 12 month sentence.

“Ms Holman wants to stop the cycle,” said assistant federal public defender Ned Smock. “Her history shows that repeated terms of incarceration that increase in severity are not the answer…recidivism can be directly linked to untreated mental health and substance abuse problems.”

Smock asked the court to facilitate his client’s entry to the ‘Epihany Center’ which provides residential mental health treatment.

“This poor [victim] living on benefits, this was a big thing for that person,” said U.S. District Judge Donato in courtroom 11 of San Francisco federal courthouse this morning. “I know what it costs people, at this point in their lives, when they can’t get that money…it’s devastating…it means no food.”

Although he expressed concern about public safety he opted to allow Holman to enter treatment by imposing a time served sentence. He ordered that he be kept in custody until Wednesday to ensure he could be taken directly to his treatment placement.

If for any reason that were not to happen, he said, it must be brought to his immediate attention.