An Albany man has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and firearms offenses following a months-long federal investigation.
Tymell Cooks, 36, admitted in court that he conspired to sell fentanyl and possessed cocaine and loaded firearms to protect his drug operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York.
Between January and June 2024, Cooks sold about 202 grams of fentanyl directly and through a co-conspirator. When law enforcement searched his Albany home in June, they found 69 grams of cocaine, two loaded handguns, ammunition, nearly $5,000 in cash, and body armor.
Federal prosecutors said the guns were used to guard his drugs and money.
“Fentanyl continues to fuel the deadly overdose crisis,” Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III said in a statement. “This case demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who traffic in this poison and use illegal firearms to protect their criminal enterprises.”
DEA Special Agent Frank A. Tarentino III praised the team effort: “New Yorkers deserve safe communities free of drugs and violence, and the DEA is committed to delivering that.”
Cooks is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2026. He faces at least 10 years in prison, with the possibility of a life sentence, along with a fine of up to $5 million and a supervised release term of at least four years.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime.
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