Atlanta man sentenced to over two decades for large-scale drug trafficking

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, from Atlanta, Georgia, is a repeat offender with prior convictions in Georgia and North Carolina for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, trafficking in cocaine and marijuana, attempted trafficking in cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His previous aggravated assault conviction 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 information presented in court by U.S. Attorney Hertzberg’s office, Cobb was responsible for distributing at least 50 kilograms of cocaine, 4 kilograms of methamphetamine, as well as quantities of fentanyl and heroin. Beginning in 2022, DEA agents surveilled Cobb’s southwest Atlanta stash location where they seized significant amounts of illegal drugs—including approximately 17.6 kilograms of cocaine hidden under a tow truck bed—and thousands of dollars from Cobb’s customers and associates. Agents also recovered about 22 kilograms of cocaine from an associate’s vehicle in South Carolina.

In July 2023, authorities executed a search warrant at one primary stash house linked to Cobb where they found counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine; three bricks of marijuana; a loaded semiautomatic firearm with a large-capacity magazine; ammunition for two other firearms; money counters; pill counter equipment; and over $250,000 cash across two stash houses combined.

Cobb pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024 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. United States District Judge J.P. Boulee sentenced him on August 27 to serve his prison term followed by ten years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA task force units http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia), Suwanee Police Department (Georgia), Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia), Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF), Georgia State Patrol, Spalding County Sheriff’s Office (Georgia), and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (South Carolina). The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys John T. DeGenova and Dwayne A. Brown Jr., along with former Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebeca M. Ojeda.

This prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordination between Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhoods.