Carlton Bruce Cooke, a 40-year-old resident of Pensacola, Florida, has been sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentencing was announced by John P. Heekin, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
U.S. Attorney Heekin stated: “My office is committed to ensuring our community’s most violent offenders are confronted with the full force of the law. This repeat felon not only unlawfully possessed a firearm, he used it to threaten others. Operation Take Back America is a promise by President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi that we will do everything in our power to stop those who are endangering our communities. I am proud of the work of our brave state and federal law enforcement partners who investigated this case, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute these offenders to keep our communities safe.”
According to court records, on July 10, 2024, Cooke approached his roommates who were sitting in a truck outside their residence. He exited the house holding a firearm and ordered them to leave before firing a shot into the ground near their vehicle. Law enforcement officers later searched Cooke’s vehicle and found two loaded handguns—one of which had an extended magazine—as well as ammunition. Cooke has prior convictions for multiple firearms offenses.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives worked with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer H. Callahan prosecuted the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative using Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime by coordinating efforts from programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices serving as principal litigators under direction from the Attorney General. More information about public court documents can be found at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website, while details about the office are available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.
