Charleston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Weapons Violation

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Anthony Cobbs, 26, of Charleston, was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Sept.21, 2022, Charleston Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on a sedan for an expired temporary tag. A female was driving and Anthony Cobbs, the defendant, was the front passenger. During the stop, an officer observed Cobbs attempt to conceal a black handgun from his waistband. After Cobbs was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody, officers recovered the firearm and ammunition under the front passenger seat where Cobbs was seated.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Cobbs to 78 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.

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