4 Sentenced In Cherokee County Armed Robbery

ACWORTH, GA — Four people were sentenced in connection with a July 2019 armed robbery of two men at an Acworth apartment, Cherokee County Acting District Attorney Susan K. Treadaway said Thursday in a news release.

Rachel Marek, 22, of Kennesaw, is accused of inviting a man she met to an Acworth apartment in Cherokee County on July 23, 2019, while Ajani "Kaejoo" Harris, 22, of Powder Springs, is accused of waiting in the parking lot with a rifle in a guitar case.

Treadaway said Marek welcomed the man and another man into the apartment. Harris is accused of then coming into the apartment with Jayden "Huncho" Hickman, 22, of Marietta, and pointing the rifle at the men. Hickman is accused of pointing a handgun at them.

Doriean "Goku" McElheney, 21, of Kennesaw, is accused of helping to rob the men, taking a wallet, cell phone, headphones and shoes.

Harris, Hickman and McElheney are accused of being associates of Yarborough Park Crips and Young Slime Life. Treadaway said the armed robbery took place to further gang activity.

Harris is accused of calling someone from jail in January 2020, telling the person he needed help with his case and "mentioned a letter with instructions regarding the armed robbery victims," Treadaway said.

Authorities with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office used the information in the phone call to execute a search warrant at Harris' home, where they found the letter, Treadaway said. In the letter, Harris is accused of sharing personal details of the victims and detailing a plan to threaten, bribe, intimidate and hinder the victims from testifying in his case, Treadaway said.

In connection with the armed robbery case, Harris is charged on suspicion of violating the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act, armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Treadaway said.

He was sentenced on Dec. 20, 2022, to 60 years with the first 30 years to serve in prison and the remainder on probation, Treadaway said. Special conditions include banishment from Cherokee County and no contact with any member or associate of a criminal street gang, Treadaway said.

In relation to the letter, he was charged on suspicion of conspiracy to commit influencing a witness and violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. He was sentenced to 20 years to run concurrent with the armed robbery sentencing.

“Ajani Harris not only failed to take responsibility for his actions, but also worked to circumvent the system by using his status in the gang to intimidate and threaten the victims in this case," Assistant District Attorney Megan S. Hertel said in a news release.

"If not for the actions of law enforcement, in collaboration with members of the district attorney’s office, this could have resulted in further harm to the victims. This jury, through its verdict, and this court, through its sentence, have shown our community that we will not be intimidated by criminal street gangs in Cherokee County.”

McElheney and Hickman were sentenced to 20 years with 10 years in prison while Marek was sentenced to 20 years with five years to serve in prison in connection with the armed robbery, Treadaway said.