Joseph Lovell Cook, Unlawful Gun Possession, West Virginia 2015

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - In a shocking turn of events, Joseph Lovell Cook, a 22-year-old convicted felon, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm in Barboursville, West Virginia, on July 3, 2014.

Cook, a native of Detroit, Michigan, was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to a 2010 assault with a dangerous weapon conviction in Michigan and a 2012 drug trafficking conviction in Cabell County, West Virginia.

The guilty plea was entered in federal court in Huntington, where Cook faces up to ten years in federal prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 10, 2015.

The FBI Drug Task Force and the DEA Task Force conducted the investigation, which led to Cook's arrest and subsequent guilty plea.

Assistant United States Attorneys Greg McVey and Jennifer Rada Herrald are in charge of the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.

As a convicted felon, Cook's actions were reckless and irresponsible. His guilty plea is a step in the right direction, but the consequences of his actions must be taken seriously.

The people of West Virginia demand justice, and it's the job of law enforcement to ensure that those who break the law face the full weight of the law.

We will continue to follow this case and bring you updates as more information becomes available.

The defendant/respondent's name is Joseph Lovell Cook, a 22-year-old convicted felon from Detroit, Michigan.

The exact criminal charges against Cook are possessing an SKS semi-automatic assault rifle on July 3, 2014, in Barboursville, West Virginia.

The city and state where the crime occurred are Barboursville, West Virginia.

The exact date of the crime is July 3, 2014.

Cook faces up to ten years in federal prison.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdwv/pr/convicted-felon-pleads-guilty-unlawfully-possessing-firearm-0