Royce Cobb, also known as “Rapp,” has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison after being convicted for cocaine trafficking and illegal possession of a loaded semiautomatic firearm. Cobb, 47, from Atlanta, is a multi-time convicted felon with previous sentences in Georgia and North Carolina for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, trafficking in cocaine and marijuana, attempted trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. One of his prior convictions stemmed from a 2001 shooting that resulted in the death of one of his drug customers.
“More than a decade behind bars failed to deter Cobb from trafficking large amounts of drugs from an Atlanta stash house while armed,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Thankfully, the determined investigation of the DEA and their state and local partners finally halted Cobb’s illicit activity.”
“Far too many victims have suffered at the hands of repeat offenders who show no remorse for the chaos they create,” said Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “DEA is committed to dismantling criminal networks and protecting our communities.”
“When we team our resources with the resources of our local, state, and federal partners, gang members better beware,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “The removal of drugs, weapons and gang members from the streets immediately makes those communities safer.”
“This case underscores the powerful impact that can be achieved when law enforcement agencies unite with purpose, harnessing their collective strength to dismantle complex drug trafficking networks and deliver a decisive blow to criminal organizations,” said Acting Director Andy Dimond of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA).
According to court records and information provided by prosecutors, Cobb was responsible for distributing over 50 kilograms of cocaine as well as methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. In 2022, DEA agents began surveillance on Cobb’s southwest Atlanta stash location; this led to seizures of large quantities of illegal drugs—such as nearly 40 kilograms of cocaine found under vehicles or transported out-of-state—firearms, ammunition for multiple weapons, counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, marijuana bricks, money counters, pill counters, and more than $250,000 in cash across two locations.
Cobb was convicted on April 16, 2024 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On August 27th United States District Judge J.P. Boulee sentenced him to serve 23 years in prison followed by ten years supervised release.
The case involved multiple agencies: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA task force units such as Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; Suwanee Police Department; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; Georgia State Patrol; Spalding County Sheriff’s Office; Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (South Carolina). Prosecutors included Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown Jr., along with former Assistant United States Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda.
This prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America—a national effort coordinated by the Department of Justice that combines resources from initiatives like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods—to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
Further details about this case are available at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.