Monday, September 21, 2009

[GREENEVILLE, Tenn] -Bobby Howard Cook, 55, of Johnson City, Tennessee, pled guilty on Monday, September 21, 2009, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville, to the receipt of child pornography which had been transported in interstate commerce. Sentencing has been set for February 1, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., in United States District Court in Greeneville.

Cook was convicted in federal court in 1997 of the receipt of child pornography and served thirty-three months in prison for the prior offense. Because this is the second child pornography offense, Cook faces a term of mandatory minimum term imprisonment of fifteen years and a maximum term of imprisonment of forty years; a maximum fine of $250,000; a maximum term of lifetime supervised release; a mandatory $100 special assessment; and forfeiture of the instrumentalities of the offense.

On July 14, 2009, a two-count indictment, which included the aforementioned charges, was returned against Cook by a federal grand jury sitting in Greeneville. This indictment was the result of an ongoing investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney Helen Smith represented the United States. Cook has remained in federal custody since he was arrested on a criminal complaint on July 9, 2009.