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Man sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for drugs, guns

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A former Washington man who pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intention to distribute was sentenced this week in federal court, Pittsburgh, to eight years and four months in prison.

Bobby Leon “Shorty” Cook, 30, also entered a guilty plea Jan. 3 to possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

By the order of Senior U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti, Cook’s incarceration is to be followed by five years of supervised release.

A native of Detroit, Cook was the occupant of a room at the Red Roof Inn, West Chestnut Street, in 2016 when he became the target of an undercover investigation into heroin sales.

According to information presented to the court, a detective with the Canonsburg Police Department made recorded calls to Cook and arranged to buy a “brick” containing 50 stamp bags of opiates from Cook for $350.

Cook was stopped after leaving the hotel in the vicinity of Maple Avenue when was found to be in possession of a total of 70 stamp bags of heroin and $3,293 in cash.

Law enforcement subsequently searched his hotel room and found unfilled stamp bags, a digital scale, packaging material and three firearms, one of which was stolen in a Washington County residential burglary.

While imposing the sentence, the judge noted people are dying from heroin purchased from opiate dealers like Cook and that his illegal possession of multiple firearms made the situation even more dangerous, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Cook forfeited $3,239, a 9 mm pistol, a .357 caliber revolver and a .38 special caliber revolver, plus ammunition.

His criminal record in Washington County includes robbery, conspiracy and related charges for which he received a four- to eight-year sentence in 2010.

In addition to the Canonsburg police, the investigation was conducted by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and police from Washington, Robinson Township, Coraopolis, Monessen, state police and the Washington County Drug Task Force.

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program. Former Washington County Assistant District Attorney Jerome Moschetta also worked on the case as a deputized assistant U.S. attorney.

“The whole idea behind working with the feds is combining our resources,” Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said Friday.

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