Berkeley County woman admits to firearms charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Mary Virginia Cook, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, has admitted to a firearms charge, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Cook, age 26, pled guilty to one count of “Aiding and Abetting a False Statement During Purchase of Firearms.” Cook admitted to making false statements when purchasing a .40 caliber pistol and a 9mm pistol in Berkeley County in February 2018.

Cook is facing up to 10 years 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.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). Project Safe Neighborhoods is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. 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.