Tymell Cooks, a 36-year-old resident of Albany, pleaded guilty to charges involving drug distribution and firearms offenses. The plea was announced by Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New York Division.
According to authorities, between January and June 2024, Cooks sold about 202 grams of fentanyl using both direct sales and a co-conspirator. In June 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence in Albany, where they found approximately 69 grams of cocaine, two loaded firearms—a Cobra Firearms Shadow 38 Special revolver and an M&P Shield EZ 2.0 Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol—ammunition, $4,850 in cash, and body armor. Cooks admitted to possessing the firearms for the purpose of protecting his drug supply and proceeds.
Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III stated: “Fentanyl continues to fuel the deadly overdose crisis across our communities. This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who traffic in this poison and use illegal firearms to protect their criminal enterprises. We thank the DEA and our law enforcement partners for their continued efforts to dismantle these dangerous networks.”
DEA Special Agent in Charge Frank A. Tarentino III stated: “Today’s guilty plea of Tymell Cooks is thanks to the hard work and determination of our DEA special agents and partners in targeting those individuals who pose a danger to our society. New Yorkers deserve safe communities free of drugs and violence, and the DEA is committed to delivering that.”
Sentencing for Cooks is scheduled for January 6, 2026 before United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison with a possibility of up to life imprisonment, as well as a fine that could reach $5 million and supervised release ranging from four years up to life.
The case was investigated by the DEA with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashlyn Miranda.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), described as an evidence-based program focused on reducing violent crime through coordinated enforcement efforts among stakeholders and partnerships with prevention programs, played a role in this case. More information about PSN can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psn.
