Buckeye Reporter

A Cleveland man has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl and illegally possessing firearms. Gerald M. Cook Jr., 38, received a sentence of 248 months from U.S. District Judge Pamela A. Barker following his guilty plea in March.

Cook faced several charges, including one count of felon in possession of a firearm, with previous drug trafficking convictions dating back to 2018, 2014, and 2011. He was also convicted on three counts of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

In addition to the prison term, Cook will serve five years of supervised release and must forfeit all firearms seized by federal agents.

“We have no tolerance for dangerous drug traffickers who make illegal profits by harming others. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will persist in our goal to end fentanyl’s grip on so many of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District Ohio. “I would especially like to commend the efforts of the DEA, the Willoughby Police Department and our other local partners for their hard work and dedication to protecting the public.”

Court documents state that on August 16, 2020, Willoughby Police observed Cook run a red light while driving a black Porsche Cayenne before parking at a hotel. Officers saw a loaded pistol in plain view inside his vehicle; Cook was prohibited from having firearms due to prior felony convictions.

In September 2020, detectives from the Suburban Police Anti-Crime Network (SPAN) learned that someone known as “JR” was selling fentanyl from an address in Euclid, Ohio. They identified “JR” as Cook and made two controlled purchases from him at that location. On October 2, SPAN detectives and Cleveland DEA agents searched Cook’s residence and found over 100 grams of fentanyl analogue mixtures along with handguns, ammunition, digital scales, and mixing materials.

“Mr. Cook’s days of distributing poison in our communities has come to an end. This sentence will further protect our community and should serve as a warning to anyone willing to cash-in on suffering for profit,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Lawton for the DEA Detroit Division. “Partnerships, such as with Willoughby PD and SPAN, are crucial in our efforts to keep communities safe from drugs.”

The investigation involved collaboration between the DEA Detroit Division's Cleveland Field Office, Willoughby Police Department, and SPAN—a partnership among police departments including Lyndhurst, Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village, Richmond Heights, and Highland Heights.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys James P. Lewis and Kevin E. Bringman prosecuted the case for the Northern District of Ohio.

National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day is scheduled for August 21 this year; additional information can be found at https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness.