Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Fairbanks, Alaska – U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced today that a three-time convicted felon was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for illegally possessing firearms in Fairbanks, Alaska.

J Cobb Whitmore, 38, of Fairbanks and Nenana, Alaska, was sentenced yesterday by Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline, to 37 months, 3 years supervised release, and 80 hours of community service. On September 8, 2017, Whitmore pled guilty in federal court for being a felon in possession of firearms, and agreed to forfeit all rights to firearms and ammunition named in the forfeiture allegation.

According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Hattan, who prosecuted the case, in November 2015, Whitmore was a fugitive wanted on two active felony warrants in the following State of Alaska cases: (1) 4FA-15-01243CR (Assault 3); and (2) 4FA-15-02203CR (Escape 2). On November 19, 2015, after several days of surveillance and investigation, the U.S. Marshal Service’s Alaska Fugitive Task Force (AFTF) apprehended Whitmore at a Fairbanks property and executed the two outstanding warrants stemming from Whitmore’s aforementioned 2015 cases. At the time of his arrest, Whitmore was found in possession of two firearms, ammunition, and a ballistic vest, as well as a flatbed truck stolen from a nearby Fairbanks property.

Whitmore’s lengthy criminal history includes numerous violent assaults, DUIs, and other serious crimes, spanning more than 20 years. All of Whitmore’s contacts with the criminal justice system have been in Alaska, and Whitmore has committed nearly all of his crimes in either Nenana or Fairbanks.

At sentencing, Judge Beistline noted that Whitmore has victimized numerous Interior residents over the years via Whitmore’s numerous convictions, many of which involved violence, guns, or both. The Judge imposed the high-end of the advisory sentencing guideline range for Whitmore (i.e., 37 months) and ordered, among other things, that Whitmore complete 80 hours of community service and meet satisfy his child support obligations.

U.S. Attorney Schroder commended the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the United States Marshal Service, both branches of the Department of Justice, and the Alaska State Troopers (AST) for their substantial assistance leading to the successful prosecution of this case.

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