Albuquerque Felon Pleads Guilty to Violating Federal Firearms Laws

ALBUQUERQUE – Dakota Cook, 26, of Albuquerque, N.M., pled guilty today in federal court to violating the federal firearms laws by being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Cook was indicted on June 28, 2017, and was charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and one count of possessing an unregistered firearm.  According to the indictment, Cook committed the offenses on June 24, 2016, in Valencia County, N.M.  Cook was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions for receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle and aggravated assault on a peace officer.

During today’s proceedings, Cook pled guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.  In entering the guilty plea, Cook admitted possessing a firearm on June 24, 2016, and that a ballistics test connected the firearm to another pending case against him.  Cook acknowledged that he was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because of his prior felony convictions.

At sentencing, Cook faces a maximum statutory penalty of ten years of imprisonment.  However, if the court determines that Cook is an armed career criminal, he faces an enhanced sentence of a mandatory minimum 15 years to a maximum of life imprisonment.

This case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of the FBI, the New Mexico State Police and the Los Lunas Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Letitia C. Simms is prosecuting the case as part of a federal anti-violence initiative that targets violent, repeat offenders for federal prosecution.  Under this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal law enforcement agencies work with New Mexico’s District Attorneys and state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to target violent or repeat offenders primarily based on their prior criminal convictions for federal prosecution offenders with the goal of making communities in New Mexico safer places for people to live and work.