Little Rock, Arkansas – Three individuals, Terry Lydell Cook, Derrick Owens, and Howard Jerome Jenkins, were sentenced to federal prison for firearm-related charges, announced Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The sentences, delivered by United States District Judge Brian S. Miller, reflect the seriousness of the offenses committed by the defendants, who all had previous convictions for violent and drug-related crimes.
Terry Lydell Cook, a 33-year-old resident of Little Rock, Arkansas, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, the maximum allowed by law. Cook, a previously convicted felon, was indicted on March 2, 2022, for possession of a firearm by a felon. He pleaded guilty on June 2, 2023.
The incident that led to Cook’s arrest occurred on March 27, 2021, when the Little Rock Police Department responded to reports of a shooting at a residence. Witnesses reported that Cook had been involved in a physical altercation with a female, causing a visible injury, and had fired multiple shots in the air. Cook had left the scene by the time the police arrived.
An investigation resulted in an arrest warrant for Cook, and on April 2, 2021, officers found Cook at a residence, where they also discovered a firearm. Cook’s criminal history includes convictions for residential burglary, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, terroristic threatening, possession of a firearm by certain persons, and multiple instances of domestic violence.
Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Little Rock Police Department.
Derrick Owens, a 44-year-old from Little Rock, was sentenced to 102 months in federal prison. Owens was indicted on August 8, 2019, for possession of a firearm by a felon and pleaded guilty to the superseding indictment on July 27, 2020.
The charges stemmed from an incident on April 25, 2017, when police responded to a disturbance on Colonel Glenn Road involving gunshots. A witness reported that Owens had assaulted a female at an apartment complex and threatened her with a firearm. When officers arrived, they found Owens in a vehicle and discovered a firearm during a search of the vehicle.
Owens has a criminal history including convictions for robbery, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of PCP, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal attempt to commit rape. He also has convictions for escape, failure to register as a sex offender, and possession of firearms by certain persons.
Assistant United States Attorney Edward Walker prosecuted Owens’ case, which was also investigated by the ATF and the Little Rock Police Department.
Howard Jerome Jenkins, a 33-year-old from North Little Rock, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison. Jenkins was indicted on October 26, 2021, for illegally possessing a firearm and pleaded guilty on September 16, 2022.
On April 22, 2021, a North Little Rock Police officer responded to a one-vehicle accident and found Jenkins, who was impaired and in possession of a firearm. Jenkins has prior convictions for delivery of cocaine, first-degree battery, terroristic threatening, possession of methamphetamine, and domestic battery.
Assistant United States Attorney Jana Harris prosecuted the case, with the ATF and the North Little Rock Police Department conducting the investigation.
