Serial Bank Robber Pleads Guilty

United States Attorney Deborah Gilg and the Federal Bureau of Investigations announce the following information for the attention of the media:

Event Triggering this Release:

Serial bank robber Jason D. McCain plead guilty on July 8, 2010, to robbing an Omaha Tier One Bank branch and a Council Bluffs credit union. McCain had pending charges in Nebraska which included allegations of having committed four bank robberies. McCain also was charged in federal court in the Southern District of Iowa with having committed the Council Bluffs Telco Credit Union robbery. McCain’s guilty plea was made pursuant to a plea agreement wherein he admitted responsibility for the commission of all of four bank robberies in Nebraska as well as the one in Council Bluffs.

The indictment alleged that in addition to the Omaha branch Tier One robbery on March 1, 2007, and the Telco C redit Union robbery in Council Bluffs on January 17, 2009, McCain also committed bank robberies on December 16, 2008, when he robbed the same Omaha Tier One Bank branch located on South 42nd Street, a December 8, 2009 robbery of the First National Bank on 33rd & “L” Street, and a December 24, 2009 robbery of the Bank of the West on 4724 South 24th Street. It was the Bank of the West robbery which ultimately led to McCain’s arrest. The Omaha Police were contacted while that robbery was in progress. McCain utilized the same plan in each of the five robberies. The plan included him wearing a fur lined hooded parka partially obscuring his face while displaying what appeared to be a handgun in his belt or on his person. The suspect was reported to have been driving a red or maroon color Ford Taurus with Nebraska license plates.

On the December 24, 2009, robbery of the Bank of the West, officers of the Omaha Police Department located a vehicle matching that description traveling at a high rate of speed and engaging in numerous traffic violations. A pursuit ensued which ultimately led to the apprehension of McCain in the 28th & St. Mary’s area. Found inside the red Ford Taurus being operated by McCain was also a black hooded parka with a fur lined hood, a black bb gun which appeared to be an authentic firearm, and the proceeds from the Bank of the West robbery, $24,864.00. McCain is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Strom on September 30, 2010.

Name of Defendant: Jason D. McCain
AKA:
Age: 31
City of residence: Omaha, Nebraska
Crime(s) Charged and Potential Penalty (A CHARGE is merely an accusation and every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty): Bank Robbery, 20 years, $250,000, three years of supervised release and a $100 special assessment.
Specific Location of Alleged Crime: Omaha, Nebraska
Location of Arrest: Omaha, Nebraska
Alleged Dollar Loss/Type and Quantity of Drug:
Others Charged in Same Scheme:
Relevant Dates:
Date of Alleged Crime: 1st day of March, 2007, 16th day of December, 2008, 8th day of December, 2009, 24th day of December, 2009
Federal Arrest Date: April 28, 2010
Date Complaint Issued: N/A
Indictment Returned Date: March 17, 2010
Initial Appearance Date: April 28, 2010
Plea or Trial and Date(s): Plead guilty on July 8, 2010
Sentencing Date: September 30, 2010
Next Court Hearing Type and Date: Sentencing set for September 30, 2010
Assigned Magistrate Judge: Thomas D. Thalken
Held without Bond, or Released from Custody: Held without Bond
In Continuous Custody Since: April 28, 2010
Assigned District Court Judge: Lyle E. Strom
Initials of Assigned AUSA/Preparer of THIS Release: FDF