Anthony Cobbs, a 26-year-old resident of Charleston, has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison. Cobbs pleaded guilty to the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The court was presented with evidence indicating that on September 21, 2022, officers from the Charleston Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a sedan due to an expired temporary tag. Cobbs was identified as the front passenger while a female was driving. During the stop, an officer noticed Cobbs attempting to hide a black handgun from his waistband. Following his removal from the vehicle and subsequent arrest, officers found the firearm and ammunition under the front passenger seat where Cobbs had been sitting.
United States District Judge David C. Norton handed down a sentence of 78 months imprisonment for Cobbs, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. It is noted that there is no parole available in the federal system.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is responsible for prosecuting the case.