RINGGOLD, Ga. – The Office of the District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit announced that a Catoosa County jury has convicted 25-year-old Kaleb Cooks of Chatsworth, Georgia, on all counts related to fentanyl trafficking, possession of drug-related objects, and driving under the influence (DUI). The verdict was reached on October 2, 2025, following a trial that highlighted the region’s ongoing fight against the fentanyl crisis.
The charges stemmed from a December 7, 2023, incident when Catoosa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle with an occupant who might be in distress. Deputies found Cooks behind the wheel appearing impaired. During the encounter, an officer observed a large quantity of suspected fentanyl and cocaine in Cooks’ lap, which he attempted to hide. Deputies conducted field sobriety tests, confirmed signs of impairment, and placed Cooks under arrest for DUI. A search of the vehicle uncovered fentanyl, cocaine, and other drug-related items.
Cooks was sentenced to a total of 30 years, with five years to serve in the Georgia Department of Corrections. Prosecutors had requested a longer sentence, citing the devastating toll of fentanyl on Georgia communities…