Local

Accused gang member, murder suspect arrested in Charlotte​

Authorities arrested a man that federal prosecutors say was involved with a violent gang out of Raleigh.

Demetrius Toney, 24, is currently being held in the Mecklenburg County jail.

A federal grand jury in Raleigh indicted Toney in late January. Several others have been charged in the case but their names are currently redacted in court documents. ​

According to the indictment, the suspects were connected to the Black Mob Gangtas organization. Toney is charged in a murder count related to the 2009 death of a rival gang member in Raleigh. Federal prosecutors described Toney as a low-level gang member within the organization. However, he has been living in Charlotte the past couples years after the state dismissed its murder case against him, his defense attorney said.

On Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler denied Toney’s request to be released on bond while he awaits trial.

Friends and family were frustrated by the decision.

“My brother is not a threat to anybody, he's so sweet, if you get to know him,” said Iesha Toney, the suspect’s sister.

Toney’s girlfriend, Jillian Wiman, told Channel 9 he was not a gang member.

“[Prosecutors] are going to need to prove that,” Wiman said.