A Charlotte man, Kaionta Dabney, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his involvement in two armed carjackings. The sentence was announced by Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. District Judge Michael F. Urbanski ordered Dabney to serve 84 months for each offense, followed by two years of supervised release.

The announcement was made in collaboration with Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

Court documents revealed that on January 11, 2023, Dabney and Marcus Mayfield targeted a Dodge Hellcat vehicle owned by R.P. Mayfield held R.P. at gunpoint while Dabney took the key fob and stole $2,000 and a .40 caliber Glock 23 handgun from the vehicle.

On January 22, 2023, Dabney committed another carjacking involving a Chevrolet Camaro driven by G.P., who did not understand English. When G.P. attempted to flee, Dabney shot him multiple times with the previously stolen firearm and drove away in the victim's car. The shooting resulted in serious injuries requiring emergency surgery.

Dabney pleaded guilty on June 12, 2024, to charges related to both incidents and is currently in federal custody awaiting transfer to a designated facility.

Bobby Gene Valentine pleaded guilty to similar charges and received an 11-year sentence with two years of supervised release. Marcus Mayfield has also pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

U.S. Attorney King credited the ATF and CMPD for their investigation efforts. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Sielaff handled the prosecution.