en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
HARRISBURG, Pa. — A man facing a June trial in Franklin County Court for solicitation of first-degree murder was convicted Friday of violating federal firearms-possession and drug-trafficking laws.
Anthony Michael Cobb, 48, of Waynesboro, Pa., was found guilty by a jury after a two-day trial before U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia H. Rambo in Harrisburg.
The jury deliberated for two hours before convicting Cobb of three counts of unlawful possession of five separate firearms and of being a previously convicted felon who was not permitted to possess them. He also was found 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 in May 2016. Cobb is slated for a June 19 trial in local Commonwealth Court on 21 criminal counts, including solicitation of first-degree murder, attempted third-degree murder, aggravated assault and intimidating a witness.
As part of the investigation, Waynesboro police went to Cobb's apartment with a search warrant and found a firearm, marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, an assortment of prescription pills, digital scales, zip-top bags, razor blades and piles of cash, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney David J. Freed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation also was part of the investigation.
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.
No sentencing date for Cobb has been set on the federal conviction.
Cobb's Franklin County trial is scheduled to include another defendant, Brandon J. Maze, 28, who is charged with attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm in connection with the same incident. Maze, who is representing himself, has asked the court for a separate trial.
On April 20, 2016, Waynesboro police said two reports of shots fire were connected, with the second one possibly being a case of retaliation. They said the target in the evening incident on South Potomac Street might have been a victim of mistaken identity.
One witness told police that two males came to Cobb's apartment on that April night and told him they saw “Black,” the man who stabbed Cobb earlier that day, according to an affidavit in one of Cobb's cases. Cobb gave one of them a 9 mm handgun, and told the witness to drive the two males to South Potomac and West Third streets and “take care of business,” the affidavit said.
The witness told police that he dropped the two males off and heard gunshots as he drove away, the document said. The males also discovered that the man they shot at was not the man who stabbed Cobb, the affidavit said.
Careers Staff Directory Accessibility Site Map Legals Our Ethical Principles Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy PolicyDo Not Sell My Info / Cookie Policy
Contact Us Support Local Business Advertise Your Business Advertising Terms and Conditions Licensing & Reprints Help Center Subscriber Guide My Account Give Feedback