CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Another West Virginia thug caught with a piece he shouldn’t have. Cole Dylan Cooper, 30, of Nitro, admitted in federal court to being a convicted felon illegally carrying a loaded firearm. The guilty plea, entered before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin on May 8, 2019, brings Cooper one step closer to a long stay in a federal penitentiary.
The trouble started November 11, 2018, when South Charleston Police Department officers responded to a disturbance at Thomas Hospital. Reports indicated a suspect was attempting to break into vehicles on hospital grounds and actively dodging security. That suspect turned out to be Cooper. Officers quickly located him in a nearby parking lot, his appearance matching the description they’d received.
Confronted by law enforcement, Cooper didn’t bother denying he’d been running from hospital security. He then upped the ante, freely admitting he was armed. A search of his person revealed a loaded pistol tucked inside his jacket. This wasn’t a simple possession charge; Cooper had a prior conviction for conspiracy to commit first degree robbery – a felony that permanently stripped him of the right to own or carry a firearm.
United States Attorney Mike Stuart didn’t mince words, praising the collaborative investigation spearheaded by the South Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “We will not tolerate individuals with violent histories illegally possessing firearms,” Stuart stated. The message is clear: West Virginia’s federal prosecutors are coming down hard on gun crimes.
Cooper now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years behind federal bars. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31, 2019. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman is prosecuting the case, ensuring Cooper answers for his reckless disregard of the law. This case serves as a stark reminder that felons caught with firearms will face the full force of federal justice.
Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. Check back for updates as this story develops. The streets of West Virginia are a little safer with this one off them.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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