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. Dabney, aged 28, received a sentence of 84 months for each offense. He will also serve two years under court supervision after his release.
The announcement was made with Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.
Court documents reveal that on January 11, 2023, Dabney and co-conspirator Marcus Mayfield followed a Dodge Hellcat driven by R.P., the vehicle's owner. After R.P. parked and exited the vehicle, Mayfield held him at gunpoint while Dabney took the key fob and drove away with the vehicle. They also stole $2,000 in cash and a .40 caliber Glock 23 handgun from R.P.'s vehicle.
On January 22, 2023, Dabney and another accomplice Bobby Gene Valentine followed a Chevrolet Camaro driven by G.P. When G.P. exited his vehicle, Dabney demanded his car at gunpoint. As G.P., who did not understand English, tried to flee, Dabney shot him multiple times with the firearm stolen during the first carjacking. This left G.P. seriously injured and requiring emergency surgery.
Dabney pleaded guilty on June 12, 2024 to charges related to both incidents including possession and brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence and carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury. He is currently in federal custody awaiting transfer to a designated federal facility.
Valentine also pleaded guilty to charges including carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and possession of a firearm by a felon; he was sentenced to 11 years in prison with two years supervised release.
Mayfield has pleaded guilty to carjacking but is yet to be sentenced.
U.S Attorney King credited ATF and CMPD for their investigation into these cases. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S Attorney Timothy Sielaff from Charlotte's U.S Attorney’s Office.