FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2008

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES JOIN FORCES TO BRING DOWN GANGS IN NORTH OMAHA
Arrests Cap Year-Long Investigation

Early this morning, over 100 local and federal law enforcement officers served arrest warrants in North Omaha in a major gang investigation. A total of 17 individuals were arrested.

Currently, only one individual is in fugitive status. He is identified as Frederick Croffer, date of birth 4/14/1980.

A federal grand jury issued sealed indictments on Monday, December 15, 2008, charging a total of 18 people with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

The arrests and searches resulted from an investigation stretching back almost a year. The investigation involved a series of court ordered wire intercepts and other sophisticated evidence collection techniques. Today’s takedown does not mark the culmination of this investigation and it is anticipated that more arrests will follow.

“Today’s arrests mark the first results of an extensive and ongoing investigation.” said United States Attorney Joe Stecher. “Every law enforcement agency involved, federal, state and local has worked diligently to get us to this point. The prosecution and further investigation will be pursued with equal tenacity.”

“This case represents one of the largest gang investigations in Omaha” said Special Agent in Charge John G. Kavanagh. “The success we achieved through this joint effort could only come about due to the willingness of all the agencies involved to commit the people and resources that were necessary to its success. We couldn’t be more thankful.”

This investigation was led by the Greater Omaha Safe Streets Task Force comprised of the following agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Omaha Police Department (OPD), Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), United States Attorney’s Office (USAO), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), In addition to the task force, Bellevue Police Department (BPD), Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) and the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office assisted throughout.

An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant should be presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.