United States Attorney Joe Stecher and the Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force  announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release: Bobby T. McCarther entered a plea of guilty today before the Honorable Laurie Smith Camp, United States District Judge.  Mr. McCarther pled to the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.  As part of the plea agreement, he also agreed to forfeit $38,775.00 in United States currency, a vehicle, and a firearm.  This plea followed McCarther’s plea of guilty in Douglas County District Court this morning to a charge of First Degree Murder.  Both the federal and state pleas came as federal authorities prepared to try McCarther on May 29, 2008.  The strength of the government’s evidence is credited with inducing both pleas.  McCarther was sentenced to life in prison without parole in the state case.  Sentencing in federal court is scheduled for July 28, 2008 at 1:00 o’clock P.M.

This case is the result of a multi-agency Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force Investigation spanning over two years.  The Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Omaha Police Homicide and Gang Units as well as the United States Attorney and the Douglas County Attorney.  The Task Force targeted McCarther, a Kingpin in the Hilltop Gangster Crips.  Over the course of the investigation evidence was developed linking McCarther to the murder of Gailyn Wright on April 27, 2007 outside the Club 2000 at North 24 th Street and Ames Avenue in North Omaha.  Multiple search warrants resulted in the seizure of large quantities of crack cocaine, various firearms, over $60,000.00 in cash, vehicles, scales, an electronic money counting machine and other evidence.  Numerous members of the Hilltop Gangster Crips were indicted and many agreed to testify against McCarther.  Between physical and testimonial evidence, McCarther and his co-conspirators are responsible for distributing over 20 kilograms of crack cocaine.

At the federal sentencing hearing, prosecutors will seek to establish that McCarther is a Leader/Organizer of the criminal cartel, responsible for the death of a human being during a drug trafficking crime, that he possessed, brandished and discharged firearms during a drug crime, and that he has multiple prior drug felony convictions.

Name of Defendant: Bobby T. McCarther

AKA: 

Age: 29

City of residence: Omaha

Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty (A CHARGE is merely an accusation and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty):  conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, 10 years to life imprisonment, $4,000,000 fine, or both imprisonment and fine, and a $100 special assessment

Specific Location of Alleged Crime: 

Location of Arrest: 9168 Boyd St

Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug:

Others Charged in Same Scheme: 

Relevant Dates: 

Date of Alleged Crime: 1/1/96 -11/15/07

Federal Arrest Date: May 8, 2007

Date Complaint Issued: N/A

Indictment Returned Date: 2 nd Superseding Indictment - 11/15/07

Initial Appearance Date: 5/10/07

Plea or Trial and Date(s):   Pled 5/7/08

Sentencing Date:   7/28/08

Next Court Hearing Type and Date:   Sentencing - 7/28/08

Assigned Magistrate Judge: F. A. Gossett

Held without Bond, or Released from Custody:   Held

In Continuous Custody Since: May 8, 2007

Assigned District Court Judge: Laurie Smith Camp

Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of THIS Release:   RFC