United States Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart
Southern District of Ohio
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2008
COLUMBUS MAN SENTENCED TO 102 YEARS FOR SERIES OF ROBBERIESJudge imposes maximum sentences permitted by law |
COLUMBUS – Marcus K. Cobb, age 38, of Columbus was sentenced in United States District Court here today to 102 years imprisonment for three robberies he committed in 2006 and 2007.
Gregory G. Lockhart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Christopher P. Sadowski, Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Columbus Police Chief James G. Jackson, Upper Arlington Police Chief Brian Quinn, and Worthington Police Chief Michael Mauger announced the sentences handed down today by Senior United States District Judge George C. Smith.
Cobb robbed the Buca Di Beppo restaurant in Worthington on October 8, 2006. He grabbed an employee emptying trash outside the store, forced her back into the restaurant and ordered the manager to empty the safe or he “would begin shooting.” The manager placed cash in a chef’s hat and Cobb fled.
On January 26, 2007, Cobb, armed with a pistol, robbed the Huntington National Bank in Upper Arlington. Cobb approached an employee going into the bank at approximately 7 a.m., put a gun to her head and threatened to kill her unless another employee let him in. He took cash from the vault.
On April 12, 2007, Cobb, again armed with a pistol, robbed a Chase Bank on West Fifth Avenue in Columbus in the same manner threatening to kill one of the employees. A glove recovered at the scene was tested for DNA which matched Cobb.
A team of ATF agents and police officers from Columbus and Upper Arlington arrested Cobb on May 31, 2007.
A grand jury indicted Cobb on September 6, 2007. A United States District Court jury convicted Cobb on May 22, 2008 at the conclusion of a week-long trial.
Cobb’s sentence includes 20 years for the restaurant robbery, 25 years for each of the bank robberies, seven years for the first gun crime, and 25 years for the second gun crime. Judge Smith ordered all sentences to be served consecutively.
“At the sentencing hearing, Judge Smith called Cobb one of the most dangerous criminals ever to appear in front of him,” Lockhart said. “The fullest force of federal law will continue to be brought to bear against violent criminals.”
Lockhart commended the cooperative investigative efforts by ATF and FBI agents, with the officers from Columbus, Worthington and Upper Arlington, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Bosley who prosecuted the case.