Adam Cook, Cocaine Possession with Intent to Distribute, New York 2023

CLAYTON, NY – Adam Cook, 33, of Clayton, is facing a lengthy prison sentence after admitting to a multi-faceted criminal enterprise involving drug trafficking and the illegal manufacture of firearms. Cook pled guilty yesterday to possession of 285 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during a federal drug crime, and the production of untraceable “ghost gun” rifles.

Federal agents raided Cook’s Clayton residence in September 2020, uncovering the substantial amount of cocaine. The investigation, spearheaded by the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), quickly expanded to reveal Cook wasn’t just a drug dealer, but a clandestine gunsmith assembling unregistered weapons. He admitted to manufacturing and transferring illegally short-barreled .223 caliber rifles – so-called “ghost guns” – circumventing federal regulations and leaving no traceable record.

The ATF and the multi-agency task force, which includes U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Watertown Police Department, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, and U.S. Border Patrol, built a case demonstrating Cook’s integrated criminal activity. He wasn’t simply holding a shotgun for protection; it was directly linked to his drug operation. The evidence painted a picture of a man profiting from both poison and weaponry in the Watertown area.

Cook now faces a potential 20-year sentence for the cocaine charge alone. Adding to that is a mandatory minimum of five years, and up to life in prison, for possessing a firearm while trafficking drugs. The “ghost gun” operation carries a potential 10-year sentence. In total, Cook could be looking at up to 35 years behind bars, plus a minimum of three years of supervised release after serving his time. He may also be ordered to pay fines of up to $1 million.

U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman highlighted the case as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative focused on reducing violent crime and gun violence. “This prosecution underscores our commitment to dismantling criminal networks that threaten the safety of our communities,” Freedman stated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Southwick is prosecuting the case, and sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2024, in Syracuse.

The proliferation of “ghost guns” has become a major concern for law enforcement nationwide. These easily assembled firearms, often purchased in parts and lacking serial numbers, are increasingly turning up at crime scenes and pose a significant challenge to tracing and preventing gun violence. This case demonstrates the ATF’s ongoing efforts to crack down on those who exploit loopholes to manufacture and distribute these illegal weapons, while simultaneously targeting the drug trade that often fuels them.

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