Ocala Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty To Federal Gun Charge

Ocala, Florida – Cory Lamar Cohen, Jr. (22, Ocala) today pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Cohen had been indicted on August 19, 2020.

According to facts presented in court, on January 29, 2020, Cohen was the front seat passenger in a vehicle stopped by the Ocala Police Department for a traffic infraction. After a police canine alerted to the odor of illegal drugs in the car, a search revealed a black backpack on the floorboard that contained a loaded semi-automatic pistol, a second magazine loaded with ammunition, a glass jar containing a large amount of marijuana, five white opioid tablets, a digital scale, and Cohen’s State of Florida identification card. A subsequent laboratory analysis showed Cohen’s DNA profile at numerous locations on the recovered firearm. Cohen, a multi-convicted felon, is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ocala Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert E. Bodnar, Jr.