Berkeley County man admits to a firearms charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Lante Jerrel Cook, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II announced.

Cook, 32, pleaded guilty today to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Cook, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in July 2021 in Berkeley County.

Cook faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara Omps-Botteicher is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Martinsburg Police Department investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.