Federal Judge Hands Down Life Prison Sentences To Three United Blood Nation Gang Members

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Three members of the United Bloods Nation gang (UBN or Bloods) were sentenced today on charges of conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity (RICO) and murder, stemming from the 2014 double-murder of Douglas and Deborah London and the 2013 murder of Kwamne Clyburn, announced R. Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.  U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. presided over the sentencing hearings.

John A. Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Charlotte Division, and Chief Kerr Putney of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department join U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.

Judge Cogburn sentenced Randall Hankins, II, 24, of Charlotte, to three consecutive life sentences, following his 2017 jury conviction of RICO conspiracy; murder in aid of racketeering; and use or carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, for his role in the murder of Douglas and Deborah London.

Nana Yaw Adoma, 23, of Charlotte, was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences and 25 years in prison after the jury convicted him of RICO conspiracy; murder in aid of racketeering and use or carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death for Clyburn’s murder; assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering; and use or carry of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence and possession of firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence for his role in the armed robbery of the Londons’ business.

Judge Cogburn ordered Akheem McDonald, 24, of Charlotte, to serve two consecutive life sentences following his jury conviction of RICO conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, and use or carry of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death for Clyburn’s murder.

Judge Cogburn previously sentenced nine others for their involvement in the murders: Jamell Lamon Cureton, Malcolm Jarrel Hartley and Rahkeem Lee McDonald were each sentenced to life in prison; David Lee Fudge was sentenced to 26 years; Ibn Rashaan Kornegay was sentenced to 23 years; Nehemijel Maurice Houston was sentenced to 20 years; and Brianna Johnson, Daquan Lamar Everrett, and Centrilla Shardon Leach were each sentenced to 13 years in prison.

According to court documents, on May 25, 2014, Adoma, Cureton, and Fudge robbed The Mattress Warehouse, a store owned by Douglas and Deborah London. The three were later charged in connection with that robbery.  According to court records, Cureton and other Bloods gang members discussed that Douglas London was the only eye witness that could identify Cureton, and that he needed to be eliminated. Over the next months, the gang members exchanged correspondence and conducted numerous in-person and telephonic gang meetings, during which they discussed and planned the murder of Douglas London.

On or about October 23, 2014, Johnson drove Hartley to South Carolina, where Hartley shot and killed the couple at their home.  The pair then returned to Charlotte, first stopping at Rahkeem McDonald’s house to dispose of the gun.  Afterwards, Hartley and Johnson returned to Hartley’s apartment, where they met with other gang members to celebrate the couple’s murders.  As a result of carrying out the gang leadership orders, Hartley was “ranked up” or “promoted” to a 2-Star General.  Shortly after the murders, Cureton ordered the gang to remain silent about the Londons’ murders.  Kornegay also conducted a telephone gang meeting with other UBN gang members, during which he directed them to lay low to avoid contact with law enforcement.

Over the course of the investigation into the mattress store robbery and the Londons’ murders, law enforcement determined that Cureton, Adoma, and Ahkeem McDonald were responsible for the August 2013 murder of Kwamne Clyburn, who was killed for “false claiming,” (falsely claiming to be a Bloods member), and because Clyburn failed a “DNA check,” meaning the gang members could not verify Clyburn’s claim to be a Blood.

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the FBI for leading the investigation, and commended CMPD and the York County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance throughout the investigation and prosecution of the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Don Gast handled the prosecution.