Department of Justice

United States Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama announced that Braxton Dauphin Cook, 31, of Pine Hill, Alabama, was sentenced in federal court for being an unlawful drug user in possession of stolen firearms. Cook pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2020.

In connection with his guilty plea, Cook admitted that in the early morning hours of January 20, 2020, he burglarized a rural hunting camp in Arlington, Alabama and stole several firearms, cash, and an ATV. Later on the day of the burglary, law enforcement located Cook passed out in a pickup truck parked on the side of the road with the engine running. Investigators searched Cook’s person and found a loaded pistol that had been reported stolen from the hunting camp, as well as a syringe containing a liquid substance that Cook admitted was heroin. Inside the truck, investigators found six additional firearms that had been reported stolen from the hunting camp. Cook admitted that he had sold two firearms he stole from the hunting camp to a drug dealer and that he planned to take the other stolen items to another drug dealer. Cook estimated that he used heroin twice a day and admitted that he had used methamphetamine since 2010. Cook’s knowing unlawful use of and addiction to controlled substances rendered his possession of firearms illegal pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3).

Chief United States District Court Judge Kristi K. DuBose imposed a sentence of 26 months’ incarceration. Following his incarceration, Cook will serve three years on supervised release. During that time, Cook will undergo testing and treatment for substance abuse. The court did not impose a fine, but the judge ordered Cook to pay a $100 special assessment.

This case was investigated by the Wilcox County Sheriff’s Office, the Marengo County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted in the United States Attorney’s Office by Assistant United States Attorney Justin Roller.

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