April 6, 2009

DENVER MAN WHO WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS WITH LOADED GUN IN HIS HAND SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON FOR BEING A FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

DENVER – Roy Charles Cook, a/k/a Roy Runningbear, age 47, of Denver, Colorado, was sentenced last Friday by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn to serve 180 months (15 years) in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and an armed career criminal, Acting United States Attorney David Gaouette and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Richard Chase announced.  Cook, who appeared in custody, was remanded. 

Roy Charles Cook, a/k/a Roy Runningbear, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on December 1, 2008.  He pled guilty before Judge Blackburn to being a felon in possession of a firearm on January 16, 2009.  He was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal, a sentencing enhancement, on Friday, April 3, 2009.

According to the stipulated facts contained in the plea agreement, on October 21, 2008, Denver emergency personnel responded to a call about a man in need of medical attention.  When they arrived they found the defendant lying unconscious on the ground with a loaded .38 caliber revolver in his hand.  The defendant, who appeared intoxicated at the time, was arrested.  The firearm recovered was a Colt, Model Detective Special, .38 caliber revolver, loaded with six rounds of ammunition.  Cook had multiple felony convictions in the State of Oklahoma, including Burglary, Robbery, Concealing Stolen Property, Distribution of a Controlled Substance, and Unlawful Possession of Contraband.

“An armed career criminal and his gun have been removed from the streets of Denver, literally,” said Acting United States Attorney David Gaouette.

“The combined investigative efforts between the Denver Police Department, the United States Attorney’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives resulted in an armed career criminal taken off the streets of Denver for 15 long years,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Richard Chase.

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Denver Police Department.

Cook was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hosley.

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