CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Five alleged members of the United Blood Nation gang pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to charges tied to the murders of a Lake Wylie couple.
The plea hearings, which were not on the public schedule, took up much of the morning and early Tuesday afternoon.
IMAGES: Scene of Lake Wylie double homicide from Chopper 9
As part of the agreements, the government will not seek an indictment on murder in aid of racketeering charges against Ibn Kornegay, Centrilia Leach and Daquan Everett.
The government will also not seek the death penalty against David Fudge and Rahkeem McDonald as part of their plea agreements.
PDF: Indictment after suspected gang members arrested in connection with killings
The plea agreements also included the requirement the suspects cooperate with the continuing investigation and testify if there is a trial.
Legal analysts tell Eyewitness News it will help bolster the government's case.
"This is probably upping the ante in terms of the amount of evidence that the defendants who haven't plead guilty are going to have to face," said attorney James Wyatt.
A judge unsealed an indictment against 12 alleged members of the gang in April. It's not clear if any of the other suspects intend to take a plea deal.
Jamell Lamon Cureton, Nana Yaw Adoma, David Lee Fudge, Daquan Lamar Everett, Randall Avery Hankins II, Malcolm Jarrel Hartley, Nehemijel Maurice Houston, Briana Shakeyah Johnson, IBN Rashaan Kornegay, Centrilia Shardon Leach, Ahkeem Tahja McDonald and Rahkeen Lee McDonald are the gang members listed in the federal indictment.
The indictment said Cureton, Adoma and Fudge committed an armed robbery at the Mattress Warehouse on May 25, 2014, on South Boulevard. Debbie London told Channel 9 her husband was inside when the attempted robbery happened. He shot one of the suspects.
The FBI said on Oct. 1, 2014, Hartley and Johnson went to the Mattress Warehouse to locate the Londons. They planned to intimidate or kill the Londons to prevent them from testifying at court dates, the document said.
On Oct. 7, 2014, Cureton, Hankins and Hartley had a telephone gang meeting in which they planned the killings of the Londons. They discussed how Ahkeem McDonald was failing to accomplish that goal, according to officials.
On a date unknown to the grand jury, Cureton sent a letter to Hartley and other suspected gang members containing an order to kill the Londons.
On Oct. 15, 2014, Cureton gave additional instructions to Hartley about the planned slayings via phone. On another date unknown to the grand jury, Cureton sent a letter to Harley and other members of the gang ordering to kill the Londons.
Everett, Hankins II, Hartley, Nehemijel Houston and Briana Houston met to plan and prepare the murder on Oct. 23, 2014. Hartley was the shooter and Johnson was the driver to and from the scene of the murders.
The document indicates Hartley told Cureton about the murders on Oct. 25, 2014. Cureton thanked him.
Cureton and McDonald have been implicated in a second murder, the August 2013 killing in York County of Kwamne Clyburn, whom authorities say was killed by United Blood Nation after trying to pass himself off as a member of the gang.
In February, pictures found in Cureton's jail cell prompted the protection of two judges and Charlotte City Attorney Bob Hagemann.
Police said Doug London was the only witness to the robbery of a south Charlotte mattress store last May. Cureton was one of three men charged in the mattress store robbery.
Timeline of events:
- May 25, 2014: Two men rob the Wholesale Mattress Warehouse on South Boulevard owned by Doug and Debbie London. One of the robbers and Doug London exchange gun fire, police said.
- Oct. 23, 2014: Doug and Debbie London are found shot to death in their Lake Wylie home.
- Oct. 30, 2014: Federal prosecutors take over the armed robbery case that accuses Jamell Cureton and Nana Adoma of robbing the Londons' mattress store.
- Dec. 2, 2014: Cureton and Adoma plead not guilty in the armed robbery case, officials said. David Fudge, who drove the getaway car, was sentenced to probation after his guilty plea earlier in the year.
- Jan. 30, 2015: Police said that Malcolm Jerrel Hartley, 22, and Brianna Johnson, 18, are arrested in connection with the double homicide investigation of the Londons.
- Apr. 22, 2015: FBI raids Charlotte cell of United Blood Nation, arrests seven gang members on variety of charges. Four of those arrested are charged in Connection with murder of Londons.
COMPLETE COVERAGE:
- Deputies: Couple found shot to death at Lake Wylie home
- Brothers plead not guilty in mattress store robbery
- Questions raised after feds take over armed robbery case
Family of the London’s releases statement after guilty pleas:
“My parents were wonderful people and this is going to be a difficult time for us all. I have full faith in the prosecution. Please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers and cherish your loved ones. God bless.”
WSOC
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