Royce Cobb, also known as “Rapp,” has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison for cocaine trafficking and illegal possession of a loaded semiautomatic firearm. Cobb, 47, is a repeat offender with prior convictions in Georgia and North Carolina for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug trafficking, and firearm offenses. His criminal history includes a 2001 shooting in which he killed 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.”
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, commented on the case: “Far too many victims have suffered at the hands of repeat offenders who show no remorse for the chaos they create. DEA is committed to dismantling criminal networks and protecting our communities.”
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka added, “When we team our resources with the resources of our local, state, and federal partners, gang members better beware. The removal of drugs, weapons and gang members from the streets immediately makes those communities safer.”
Acting Director Andy Dimond of the Atlanta-Carolinas High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA) stated: “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.”
According to information presented by prosecutors in court, Cobb was responsible for distributing at least 50 kilograms of cocaine along with significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, and heroin. Beginning in 2022, investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration surveilled Cobb’s southwest Atlanta stash house. This surveillance led to seizures including kilograms of illegal drugs—such as about 17.6 kilograms of cocaine hidden under a tow truck bed—and cash proceeds from suspected drug deals involving traffickers from Georgia and neighboring states.
In July 2023, agents executed a search warrant at Cobb’s main stash house where they found counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, three bricks of marijuana, a loaded semiautomatic firearm with a large-capacity magazine, ammunition for other firearms, money counters, pill counters, and more than $250,000 in cash across two locations.
On April 16, 2024 Cobb pleaded 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. He was sentenced by United States District Judge J.P. Boulee to serve his prison term followed by ten years’ supervised release.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration; Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA; Fulton County Sheriff’s Office; Suwanee Police Department; Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office; Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives; Georgia State Patrol; Spalding County Sheriff’s Office; and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (South Carolina).
Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown Jr., along with former Assistant United States Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda prosecuted this case.
The prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative led by the Department of Justice aiming to disrupt cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among its Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods programs.
Further details are available through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia at http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
