Royce Cobb, also known as “Rapp,” has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison after being convicted of cocaine trafficking and illegal possession of a loaded semiautomatic firearm. Cobb, 47, is a repeat offender from Atlanta who previously served time for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, drug trafficking offenses, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in both Georgia and North Carolina. His criminal record includes 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.”
Jae W. Chung, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division, stated: “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 commented: “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) added: “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.”
Court documents reveal that Cobb was responsible for distributing at least 50 kilograms of cocaine, four kilograms of methamphetamine, along with fentanyl and heroin throughout Atlanta. Beginning in 2022, investigators from the DEA conducted surveillance on Cobb’s southwest Atlanta stash house. Their efforts led to seizures including kilograms of illegal drugs—such as approximately 17.6 kilograms of cocaine found under a tow truck bed—and over $250,000 in cash from two stash houses.
In July 2023, agents executed search warrants at Cobb’s properties where they confiscated counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, three bricks of marijuana, seven kilograms of cocaine at another location, money counters, pill counters, ammunition for multiple firearms and a loaded semiautomatic firearm equipped with a large-capacity magazine.
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 imposed the sentence on August 27, 2025: 23 years’ imprisonment followed by ten years’ supervised release.
The investigation involved several agencies including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Atlanta-Carolinas HIDTA program https://www.hidtaprogram.org/en/region/atlanta-carolinas-hidta , Fulton County Sheriff’s Office https://www.fultonsheriff.org/ , Suwanee Police Department https://www.suwanee.com/departments/police-department , Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office https://cherokeega-sheriff.org/ , Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives (ATF) https://www.atf.gov/ , Georgia State Patrol https://dps.georgia.gov/georgia-state-patrol , Spalding County Sheriff’s Office https://spaldingsheriff.org/ , and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office (South Carolina) https://andersonsheriff.org/ .
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 Department of Justice initiative designed to eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts like Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf-programs#OCDETF%20Strike%20Forces%20and%20Initiatives and Project Safe Neighborhoods https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/project-safe-neighborhoods .
Further information about this case can be obtained from the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office or by visiting http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
