Maryland Man Sentenced to Seven Years for Firearm Possession Amidst Drug Trafficking

Per a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Keith Cook, a 32-year-old Maryland resident, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. The sentence stems from his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Cook, a previously convicted felon, is also prohibited from legally possessing firearms and ammunition.

The case, announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, Special Agent in Charge Charles Doerrer of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Commissioner Richard Worley of the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), involved surveillance in a West Baltimore neighborhood. On January 27, 2023, a BPD officer monitoring a mini mart via CitiWatch camera observed Cook interacting with other individuals. During this observation, Cook was seen retrieving a clear plastic container from a blue backpack, from which he then dispensed suspected marijuana into a plastic bag. He proceeded to distribute this suspected marijuana to at least two unidentified individuals.

Following these observations, law enforcement officers were dispatched to the mini mart. Upon their arrival, they apprehended and handcuffed Cook. A subsequent search of Cook yielded a firearm equipped with an extended magazine holding 26 rounds of 9-millimeter ammunition. Additionally, officers discovered 14 Alprazolam pills, 88 Oxycodone pills, a Buprenorphine foil strip, $906 in cash, an iPhone, and a flip phone on his person.

A further search of the recovered backpack revealed the blue Tupperware container, which held multiple bags of suspected marijuana. The backpack also contained a clear bag and gelcaps filled with a mixture identified as heroin and fentanyl. Law enforcement also found a clear bag containing 33 clear gelcaps with a tan powder that did not test positive for controlled substances, a digital scale, and various materials used for packaging drugs. U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the ATF and BPD in this investigation, and also recognized Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tsuei for prosecuting the federal case.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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