Martinsburg man admits to a firearms charge in Federal Court  

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Martinsburg man has admitted to a firearms charge in Federal Court. Lante Jerrel Cook, 32, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearm.” Cook, a person prohibited from having firearms because of a prior conviction, admitted to having a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in July 2021 in Berkeley County.

Cook faces up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.