Franklin County Man Convicted Of Drug Trafficking And Firearms Charges

HARRISBURG – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Anthony Michael Cobb, age 48, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, was convicted on April 25, 2018, of unlawful possession of firearms and drug trafficking after a two-day jury trial held before United States District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the jury returned a verdict of guilty after approximately two hours of deliberations and convicted Cobb of three counts of unlawful possession of five separate firearms and of being a previously convicted felon who was not permitted to possess firearms.  The jury also found Cobb guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine hydrochloride (powder cocaine), cocaine base (crack cocaine), and heroin.

The charges stemmed from a stabbing and shooting incident in Waynesboro.  On May 9, 2016, Waynesboro Police Officers went to Cobb’s apartment with a search warrant and found a firearm, marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, an assortment of prescription pills, digital scales, ziplock bags, razor blades, and piles of cash. Police also located firearms at Cobb’s storage unit. 

The matter was investigated by the Waynesboro Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys James T. Clancy and Carlo D. Marchioli prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime. 

The case also is part of a district wide initiative to combat the nationwide epidemic regarding the use and distribution of heroin.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the Heroin Initiative targets heroin traffickers operating in the Middle District of Pennsylvania and is part of a coordinated effort among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who commit heroin related offenses.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

The maximum penalty under federal law for the unlawful possession of firearm charges is life in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  The maximum penalty for each of the drug trafficking charges is 30 years in prison, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs.  For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.  A sentencing date has not yet been set.

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