Reputed gang member agrees to plead guilty in connection with couple’s murder

Another reputed Charlotte gang member has agreed to plead guilty in connection with the 2014 killings of Doug and Debbie London in their Lake Wylie, S.C., home.

Nehemijel “Swagg Out” Houston, 21, of Charlotte, was charged with racketeering conspiracy and is in the Mecklenburg County jail pending the federal case against him.

His plea agreement, filed Thursday, remains sealed.

According to a court document related to the plea, Houston was at a Charlotte apartment where the alleged shooter, Malcolm Hartley, got the gun used two hours later to kill the Londons on the night of Oct. 23, 2014. The Londons were potential witnesses in an attempted robbery case.

In December 2014 or early January 2015, Houston attended a gang meeting in Charlotte with four other men who were charged in the case, according to the court document.

In October five accused members of United Blood Nation pleaded guilty for their roles in the case, in charges ranging from murder to racketeering conspiracy and have yet to be sentenced.

Racketeering charges normally carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Because this conspiracy involved murder, the maximum punishment becomes life in prison, prosecutors said. As part of their pleas, the five promised to cooperate with authorities in their investigation of the gang. In return, prosecutors can recommend lighter sentences.

Charges remain pending against Hartley, 22, of Charlotte, and five other reputed gang members, including Jamell “Assassin” Cureton. Authorities said Cureton ordered and helped plan the hit from his Mecklenburg jail cell. Both Hartley and Cureton, 23, of Charlotte, remain in custody and face possible death penalties in the case.

Cureton and Doug London exchanged gunfire during a May 2014 attempted robbery of the Mattress Warehouse on South Boulevard, authorities said. Cureton was shot in the stomach.

Months later, and angered by the Londons’ appearances at preliminary hearings in the robbery case, Cureton ordered the potential witnesses silenced, prosecutors said.

Staff Researcher Maria David contributed.

This story was originally published January 2, 2016 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Reputed gang member agrees to plead guilty in connection with couple’s murder."