TRENTON, N.J. – A Trenton man was sentenced Thursday to 15 months in federal prison for posting online threats to carry out a racially motivated attack targeting white individuals in New Jersey, U.S. Attorney Alina Habba announced.
Joshua Cobb, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce after admitting he authored a violent and detailed post in December 2022 threatening mass violence against white people. The message was shared via a social media platform.
In the post, Cobb declared his intent to “erase” members of the white community, identified a New Jersey location he had been surveilling for over a year, and stated he had acquired multiple firearms for the planned attack. He described planning to carry out the assault near a “holiday to their race” and threatened to kill as many victims as possible.
Federal authorities said Cobb explicitly named a gym and an Aldi grocery store in Robbinsville, New Jersey, as potential targets during his interviews with investigators. He also acknowledged idolizing other mass shooters and had access to firearms.
Following the online threat, Cobb joined the U.S. Marine Corps in June 2023 and was stationed in California until May 2024. He was discharged after the Marine Corps was informed of the criminal case by law enforcement.
Investigation and law enforcement response
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark and supported by multiple local and federal agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office in California, the Hamilton and Robbinsville Police Departments, and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.
Cobb was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert Kirsch, who also imposed a three-year term of supervised release following his imprisonment. Authorities said Cobb admitted that his statements were threatening and that he knowingly intended to cause fear.
Prosecutors did not report any acts of violence or possession of weapons at the time of Cobb’s arrest, though he claimed to have already obtained two firearms and described tactical plans for entry and exit at a potential attack site.
Federal agents emphasized the seriousness of online threats and their capacity to incite public fear and potential violence, particularly when paired with evidence of planning and access to weapons.
