Cocaine Cowboy Gets 20 Years: McCarthren’s Wild Run Ends

VALDOSTA, GA – Bacari McCarthren, 37, of Orlando, Florida, will spend the next two decades behind bars after being sentenced to 240 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. McCarthren pleaded guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, a charge stemming from a brazen, high-speed flight from law enforcement across state lines.

The incident unfolded on August 16, 2012, when McCarthren allegedly attempted to evade police by roaring across the Florida-Georgia border at speeds exceeding 125 mph. According to court documents, his driving wasn’t merely fast – it was recklessly dangerous, with his vehicle repeatedly swerving into oncoming traffic. The pursuit nearly resulted in collisions with both civilian vehicles and police cruisers before officers were forced to disable his car.

A subsequent search revealed the reason for McCarthren’s desperate escape: a package containing 84.8 grams of cocaine, expertly concealed behind the dashboard. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) confirmed the substance’s identity, solidifying the case against the Florida man. The chase and discovery cemented the charges and ultimately the lengthy sentence handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Hugh Lawson on July 31, 2013.

“A drug dealer is bad enough, but a drug dealer who puts the public in harm’s way while running from the law, that’s inexcusable,” stated U.S. Attorney Michael J. Moore for the Middle District of Georgia. “Mr. McCarthren put drugs in our communities and danger on our streets, and I think it is fitting that his next ride on the public roadways won’t be for twenty years.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Harry S. Sommers echoed Moore’s sentiment, praising the collaborative effort between federal and local agencies. “Mr. McCarthren demonstrated a reckless disregard for public safety in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities,” Sommers said. “The Drug Enforcement Administration is grateful for our partnership with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office that resulted in the removal Mr. McCarthren from our streets.”

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent in Charge Christopher Shaefer added, “The law abiding citizens of this community are safer because of yesterday’s sentence which will ensure the incarceration of Mr. McCarthren and contribute to the restoration of order and peace to this area.” The investigation was a joint effort involving the DEA, ATF, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in Jasper, Florida. Assistant United States Attorney Peter Leary prosecuted the case. Inquiries should be directed to Sue McKinney, Public Affairs Specialist, United States Attorney’s Office at (478) 621-2602.