Press Release
Heroin Dealer with Illegal Firearms Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH - A resident of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of heroin dealing and firearm possession, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.
Bobby Leon Cook, aka "Bobby L," or "Shorty," age 30, formerly of New Brighton, PA, and originally from Detroit, Michigan, pleaded guilty to two felony counts before Senior United States District Judge Joy Flowers Conti.
In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) received information that Cook was selling heroin from a Washington County hotel room and set up surveillance. DEA Task Force Officer Charles Tenny, a Detective Sergeant with the Canonsburg Police Department, made an undercover call to Cook, who agreed to sell him a "brick" of 50 stamp bags for $350.00. Police stopped the defendant in a vehicle after Cook left the hotel and he was arrested on a warrant for violating his Pennsylvania state parole. Police found Cook’s heroin in the car, confirming the recorded calls with TFO Tenny. The hotel room was searched and law enforcement officers located three handguns, ammunition, and the ID card of Cook. Since Cook had two prior convictions for Robbery in Washington County and a separate gun conviction in Allegheny County, he was prohibited from legally possessing a firearm or ammunition. A search warrant for Cook’s cellphone revealed evidence which included pictures of the guns located in the hotel room. The government also seized and forfeited the $3,293 in cash possessed by Cook.
Judge Conti scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2019 at 3:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history of the defendant.
Since the court ordered that he remain in jail pending his sentencing, Cook was remanded to the custody of Deputy United States Marshals.
Assistant United States Attorney Ross E. Lenhardt, a veteran prosecutor in the Major Crimes Section, is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The DEA conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Cook, with valuable assistance from the Canonsburg Police Department, the City of Washington Police Department, the Washington County District Attorney’s Office and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Updated January 28, 2019
Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
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