Richmond man with previous firearms convictions sentenced for possessing a handgun

RICHMOND, Va. - A Richmond man was sentenced today to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents, on Oct. 3, 2023, Henrico County Police (HCPD) responded to a call for service regarding a fight at an apartment complex on Henrico Arms Place. A woman who was not involved in the fight approached the officers and reported that she had just been assaulted by Jamie Louis Cook, 39, who is the father of her child. When an HCPD officer attempted to place Cook into custody for domestic assault, Cook attempted to flee from the officers.

As Cook fled, he reached into his waistband, removed a loaded 9mm handgun, and dropped it on the ground. Cook eventually stopped running and was taken into custody. The officers recovered the firearm that Cook dropped, which had been stolen in November 2021.

Cook has previous felony convictions including for robbery, use of a firearm in commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James VanVliet, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Washington Field Division; Jason S. Miyares, Attorney General of Virginia; and Eric D. English, Chief of Henrico County Police Division, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen Hubbard, an Assistant Attorney General with the Virginia Attorney General's Office, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:24-cr-26.