Authorities are taking a stand against gangs in Charlotte! On Tuesday, twenty members of the 'Hidden Valley Kings' gang were indicted in Federal Court on drug and gun charges.Early this morning, local and state authorities executed several federal arrest warrants for the charges brought by the federal grand jury. Twelve gang members were arrested, three members were already in custody and five other gang members are wanted fugitives.
According to the federal indictment, the 'Hidden Valley Kings' gang formed in the 1990's. The gang derived its name from the Hidden Valley neighborhood in Charlotte, NC. At one time, most of the gang members resided in the Hidden Valley neighborhood, however, the members have spread out over time.
The structure of the gang is hierarchical, with top leaders known as "Original Kings." The next level are called "Original Gangsters" and the lower level gang members are known as "Baby Gangsters."
The 'Hidden Valley Kings' are known to be involved in various crimes; including, assaults, shootings, car thefts, break-ins and even murder. The indictment states the gang members derived income from the sale of narcotics and attempted to control all the drug dealing in the Hidden Valley neighborhood and the surrounding areas.
The Hidden Valley Kings leadership has been known at times to divide certain territory into drug dealing zones and has required narcotics dealers to pay a “block tax” in order to sell drugs on the Hidden Valley Kings’ turf.
United States Attorney Gretchen Shappert warned, “We have drawn a line in the sand and sent a message with this indictment that gang activity will not be tolerated in our city. If you are a member of a street gang and commit criminal acts, the federal government will be looking for you.”
The gang members in custody are: Emmanuel Keller, 23; Jermer Lowery, 26; Lorenzo Johnson, 24; Kenneth Martin, 27; Ronald Martin, 22; Demario Bridges, 20; Tony Stephens, 20; Matrai Davis, 25; Marcus Coleman, 24; Clifton Vandiver, 24; Ricardo Stitt, 33; Calvin Simonds, 25; Alonzo Johnson, 22; Danielle Jackson, 24; and Brian Jordan, 30.
Police are still looking for five men: Roscoe Abell, 28; Chavius Marquette Barber, 23; Kevin Lee Johnson, 23; Steven Jermonte Cureton, 26; and Charlie Renzell Strother, 25. If you have any information on their whereabouts, please call CrimeStoppers at 704-334-1600.
31 COMMENTS:
Does anyone else think this is just a dog and pony show?
I certainly dont think these guys are boy scouts and probably were part of a conspiracy. But, it looks so nickel and dime if you look at the indictment. 5 grams is hardly anything. Even the highest amount alleged in the indictment >500 grams is not that great in the scheme of things.
This may be a stretch but I personally think this website had something to do with this. With regards to the commentary on gangs a few months back.
But overall it was good to get some guns and small time drug dealers off the street. But I would hardly call these guys movers and shakers. And all this mention about assaults, shootings, car thefts, break-ins and murder seems to lack substance to me. They really nitpicked these guys in the indictments, so it seems that they would include this stuff as well if it happened. And there is nothing in the indictment that says these guys are organized in a gang. With true organized crime indictments that Ive seen, that is included in the indictment. All show and no substance.
Wow! Just imagine if the Charlotte City Council would have spent our tax money on hiring more police officers! These 'Kings' would have been de-throned 10 years or so ago!
I totally agree w/anonymous. I used to live in Hidden Valley on Bannister Place. Talking about drug traffic! I eventually moved for the safety of my family some years ago because you constantly heard shots.
Over 10 years of hell is finally over but the City of Charlotte sat by and allowed this and other crimes like this to happen in 'certain' neighborhoods on 'certain' sides of town.
The City of Charlotte wasted valuable tax dollars on projects that could have been created by independent parties i.e. NASCAR, Bobcats arena and other overpriced projects that will benefit a small portion of Charlotte-Meck residents.
Now I wonder how long it will take for a different set of thugs to terrorize Hidden Valley?
U.S. Attorney Gen. Gretchen Shapport said it best, "We have drawn a line in the sand and sent a message with this indictment that gang activity will not be tolerated in our city. If yu are a member of a street gang and commit criminal acts, the "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT" will be looking for you."
the sad part is the great City of Charlotte won't be looking for you. Thank goodness somebody will.
i think all y'all are just crazy these guys dont bother anyone that dont bother them. Y'all going off what the media is telling you. they did not cause trouble in the hidden valley community its the young boys and the crack heads thats doing all the breaking and entering and robbery. PLEASE STOP SLANDERING THEIR NAMES!!!!
Them thugs are finally gone, they did all them crimes. But hopefully the feds will keep other thugs from doing the same thing.
THIS IS SO MESSED UP............I LIVE IN HIDDEN VALLEY,AND I AM 15 YRS OLD AND THE THINGS THAT THESE DUDES DID WUZNT TRUE AT ALL THEY NEVER DID ANY CRIME IN HIDDEN VALLEY THEY TRIED TO WARN US ABOUT WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO US AT OUR AGES....AND THE THINGS THAT THE POLICE DO TO US IN HIDDEN VALLEY IS CRAZY THEY....HARASS US TEASE US AND THEY EVEN HIT ON US WHEN EVER THEY HAVE THE CHANCE AND THAT SHIT AINT COOL BUT ALL IM SAYIN IS THAT THE FEDS,CMPD OR WHO EVER HAD NO DAMN RITE TO DO WHAT THEY DID......
What do you expect of people that depend on welfare to survive. Have these people never heard of going to school or better yet getting a job. Don't give me the balck man trash, cause that just aint true. I work with hundreds of black people that do an honest days work for an honest days pay. They don't wear their pants down on their butts and speak some slang and try to intimidate people. People have to be accountable for their own actions. Don't blame me for these thugs who want to take the easy route , while the rest of the world has to work for what we get. Our taxes may buy things we don't want, such as NASCAR hall of Fame or the Bobcat Arena, or Light rail. But I hate to pay for these thugs to live off my money and are not made to work. What ever happened to the chain gang or prison workcamps. These thugs should be made to work, that would be the ultimate punishment, being that they are lazy and only want to pray on the weak. Take this or leave it, personally I don't care what you think, most people would not know the truth even if it hit them in the head.
Dear Anonymous, People that live on welfare to survive usually don't choose to live that way. Let's say someone had some problems in their late teens-early 20's and caught a felony. This person will never EVER get a job worth a shit. I'm in my 30s and have quite a few friends that f'd up in their youthful days and are paying for the rest of their lives. You might think that was the correct recourse for such actions but do you want to be held accountable for the mistakes you made at that age? OK, so some of us didn't commit felonies, but the people I know in this situation that are perfectly respectable, hard working adults can only get jobs at fast food joints or get paid under the table for general labor jobs "under the table" along with their illegal immigrant co-workers. None of these people are bad, they just have strikes against them. Year after year of this can cause depression and a will and need to break free of the poverty early mistakes have cost and with the choice of minimum wage and a condescending manager that's 19 at a McDonald's or slangin on the street I'd take my chances slangin. The punishment will not be any worse than the life the said individuals already lead. Welfare is not fun, it's not enough to support oneself let alone a family. How is one supposed to go to school when they cant keep a roof over their head? And why bother...Even with a hard earned degree they still have a record and won't be able to work in their chosen field. You disgust me with your ignorance and/or lack of thought on the above post. By the way I'm a white female with a bachelor's degree in my mid 30's. I'm no genius but wake the hell up and think about what you're saying. Attitudes like yours only further the cycle.
all I can say is that Mrs. Shappert and her troops are way too afraid of a real "gang" like MS-13 or Bloods and Crips because she doesn't want to put them in any real danger. yes those men were not choir boys, but I was born and raised in the Valley and they did nothing except protect our area from filthy bums that come from different neighborhoods like Wilmore, Cherry, Boulevard Holmes, etc... Those are the really bad areas of Charlotte hell North Charlotte Community is bad to, but Hidden Valley wasn't a place to just be all out afraid of. This whole indictment stems from a street punk (Rontrae Davis) his punk ass couldn't do 5 so he turned in any one he thought or knew had a heavy name in the street. Those guys were hand picked no facts needed to be proven just a name given. if that's the case then why aren't the men from the 2005 Eastland Mall shooting on this indictment all them boys from Hidden Valley. This indictment is all about money and getting Gretchen that big fat raise she wants. Gretchen gets a raise kevin zolot the assistant d.a. gets a raise and others. This was no real "GANG" bust just some guys who made very bad judgement as teenagers and were trying to settle it down due to having kids and seeing it led nowhere. I think if we all come together we can save these men from this horrible situation.This conspiracy came from alot of snitches, but the super snitch is KNOT KNOT yeah watch out for that guy he will turn his own mama in for a deal!!! Snitch bitch ass nigga don't drop the soap once they lock yo ass up lil boy!!! He messed up a lot of families including mine so I want touch him but he will get what he deserves in jail or in the street he can only breathe for so long!!!!! Yeah if you can't tell he pissed me off! These guys mostly didn't have dads so no real figure in the home to help is all FREE THEM BOYS FREE THEM BOYS!!!!!!
MANN HiDDEN VALLEY WE iN HEA! AiNT N0B0DY W0RRiED B0UT YALL! WE D0NT NEVER D0 SHiT! S0MEB0DY NEED T0 SUE THE DAMN MEDiA F0R FALSE ACCUSATi0N! YAL JUST HATiN CAUSE WE PAPER CHASiN AN YALL BR0KE! iTS '08! YA BETTA GETCHA S0ME M0NEY! YAAHHHNNN
Most of these dudes got caught up because of niggas snitchin...everybody praises the police but without niggas snitchin they wouldnt have all these kids..maybe a few..not all these kids. STOP SNITCHIN and just do the time....
exactly somebody set my boys up but is cool because the dude that did it he is now in critical condition you do dirt thats what you get DIRT I know the feds pissed because now their poor informant is all hospitalized (Rontrai Davis a.k.a. Knot Knot a.k.a #1 snitch) I never wish death on anybody because thats toooo deep but nigga you messed so many families and god don't like ugly dude so many kids miss they daddy H.V. 4 life is my motto, but them boys coming home soon its like a much anticipated album thme boyz will be free REAL soon keep ya eyez open and mouth shut
*Wife of a dynasty*
FREE HIDDEN VALLEY!!!! Why the feds trying to make them out to be animals. I laugh when they label them thugs as a gang it was never that serious man people just be hatin on them because they all sexy as hell and got that money. I wish all my boys were here for another hot summer. Pray for them. Love ya Sweet P!!!
Man I feel about 85% of the comments especially about Knot Knot but he wasnt the only one some of these so call Valley boyz thats free now snitched like a mug like Veto a.k.a Javaughn Dominique jackson, Lib a.k.a Samuel McNeely who got a 10yr time cut for snitching on them boyz he drop next December 09 and Sweet P snitch behind they moved him tot the GASTONIA so he could set dudes up and cut his time!!! Sweet P was out he set some dudes up!!!!!! Knot Knot got what he deserved but karma is a fool and all them boyz who set the VALLEY up will pay sooner or later!! Demario Bridges snitched to he drop 2012 or no later than 2014. Them boyz coming home sooooon trust but the the Valley they'll never return it aint the same. I love my hood but what happen to them boyz broke up the hood!
*FOREVER A HUSTLERS WIFE*
WHO WROTE THE LAST COMMENT BRITTANY OR QUITA?????
CMPD needs to step it up. Im glad these wanna be gangsta are locked up. GO GET A REAL JOB and stop living life like your in a rap video.
take em down CMPD. get em boys. these thugs tell on eachother cause they dont have an ounce of integrity. if you choose a life like that you should get a life in jail. 10-20 is way to short.
Agreed... too many people apologizing for criminals... I agree, the city should go after all gangs, not just this one, but don't try to make excuses for these guys just because "other gangs are worse". The people on here apologizing are just as ignorant and uneducated as the people who were arrested. Everyone blames the snitch, but wants to give the other criminals a pass.... snitching isn't honorable, but neither is gang bangin'.... Idiots are shooting each other over land you don't even own....
WE MADE HISTORY!!!!!! Them boys on the History Channel already oh snap we made history hahahahahaha!!!! Free Dem Boyz they never brought violence to the hood they protected our neighborhood from other people but some dont see it that way but if you born and bred from the Valley you know what it is all these so call dudes who just recently moved over there claiming our hood is kind of shaky and these hoes who not from the hood who fuck they way through just to rep us KILL yo'self!!! HV for life born and bred FREE DEM BOYZ and for those who still out watch for them snakes!
I recently saw the episode on Hidden Valley on the history channel. And what those thugs got was too little too late. I sympathize with you folks who grew up without a father, but that is no excuse. Jessee Jackson had no father. H V appears to be a planned community with single family homes. Way nicer that what I lived in.
I grew up in Jim Crow days. Segregated schools, segregated housing, back of the bus, segregated everything. Once we took a vacation and it took us an hour to find a hotel for Blacks. We were Negroes at that time. My house had no running water. If anybody should have turned to a life of crime, it should have been me. The folks who are making excuses for these animals probably lost their meal ticket. These animals were drug dealers and murderers..
I live in L.A., so I have seen the Crips operate close up. Animal is too nice a word for thse guys. My dogs have more control.
If you have a record and want to get a job, here is some advice. Read books, get a hair cut, speak english and pull up your damn pants. Always try to know more than the person who is interviewing you. If you get the job, work harder than the next guy. Arrive early and leave late. And remember, nothing comes easy.
\
Good luck,
West Coast
was it matrai davis who snitched? bc yall said that rontrae davis snitched.. is that his brother or him and his nickname?
That person a few posts up that's celebrating that H.V. was on the History channel is exactly what's wrong with this country.
Only an ignorant person would celebrate being part of a group that was on tv getting thrown in jail. Just like Chris Rock said.... "I'm keepin' it real..... real DUMB!"
News flash... nobody is gonna "free dem boyz" because nobody that matters cares about a drug dealer or murderers rights... infact, you give up your rights when decide to commit felonies.
Correction.... you have the right to remain silent.
well i lived in countryside for 7 yrs which is connected to the H.V community they changed the name of that neighborhood cause it was crazy but anyway,i luv hidden valley, alot of my friends stayed there it was like any other neighborhood, unfortunate things happened sometime!!! it really wasnt that bad!
My family was one of the first groups of families in 1962 to develop Hidden Valley. We built a house on Squirrel Hill Rd. I have very happy memories there and even though we moved when I was young it remains in my memory a great place. I remember our beautiful little white and tan tri level house. It was great! After watching the TV show last night about the Hidden Valley Kings it really disturbs me to see how this once beautiful neighborhood with street names like Cinderella and Snow White has become an area for drug dealing and violence. I even went on line and found my old home. I would love to be able to drive by it and just see it again and see how much of it I really remember, but unfortunately I have to say I would not feel safe even driving by.
Correctional Facilities are big business. Crime is cousin to politics. The people's families who have been affected by the government's drug trade are caught in a cycle of death. If society was interested in giving the youth a chance they would destroy the influences that mislead them into the lifestyle of a gangster.
I'm sorry, but to the person who wrote last on 5/1/09 it sounds like you are blaming the government for people becoming gangsters, thugs and drug users/dealers. Where are you from??? I have grown up in Charlotte, have had the option to either do drugs or not (no police officer or government official was standing there forcing me). I had the choice to work hard to establish myself in my community or the "CHOICE" to be involved in illegal activities. These guys in these gangs know that what they are doing is wrong, illegal, etc. Let's see......what kind of mentality says it's okay to murder? Quit blaming the wrong people for the bad choices that some make. We are accountable for our choices and actions in this world, good or bad.
i agree wirh some on this, i have made mistakes myself when i was younger too, if you get a felony put on your record you cant find anyone that will give you a chance at working a real job, so what are we supposed to do? be homeless and broke? society makes it to where the only thing we an do is make our money the best way we can rather it be selling drugs or what ever, if people would give convicted felons a chance at making an honest living then maybe alot of this shit will stop, instead people say stuff like they lost their rights when they committed a crime, thats not right, what ever happend to the department of corrections, thats why so many people go back, because when they get out no one will give them a chance to change, as far as the hidden valley kings go, if they are just protecting their neighborhood then theres nothing wrong with that, are they just supposed to let the crips and bloods come in and take over? that got their right to defend their neighbor hood too just like everyone else, it like a neighborhood watch program.lmao
I hope these idiots get life in prison. Why is it so hard to act like a human being? The lure of being accepted by the other thugs is too much for young kids in these situations to overcome. This is America, you have an opportunity at an honest living. Not a garauntee of being rich, but if you are willing to work, you can find it. These punks are lazy wastes of human life. They need to be made an example of. I only hope they haven't procreated yet. They should be sterilized. Idiots
If you do the CRIME , DO YOUR DAMN TIME !!! Yours !!!
GANGS ...JAIL , DEATH, INSTITUTION ...WOW, IM REALLY HOLDING MY HOOD DOWN. YEAH RIGHT !!!!!
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