Club Owner Sentenced to Federal Prison, Residents Relieved
CHARLOTTE, NC — Residents of the Wesley Heights neighborhood are relieved by a nine month federal prison sentence for the owner of Club 935.
Adolf Shiver shut down the club after pleading guilty to an undercover money laundering sting.
CMPD investigated violent gunfire, shootings, even a 2013 murder outside the club over at least three years.
Shiver had nothing to say when he left federal court after his sentencing.
Inside, he agreed to keep the club closed. In addition to the nine month prison sentence, he will complete nine months home confinement and 50 hours of community service.
He also told the judge he was sorry to everyone he hurt.
“It’s not easy to tell nine-year-old twins why people are shooting people in the street in front of their house,” said Wesley Heights resident Shy Goldstein.
Concerns about safety and property values had residents fighting to close the club for years.
In that time, prosecutors say Shiver agreed to launder $50,000 through his business accounts for an undercover drug enforcement agent.
“Should he have dealt differently? Sure,” said John Gresham.
Gresham is one attorney who has represented Shiver’s club.
When asked about the violence he said, “If you want to go on West Morehead about 2:15, it’s not an empty street, and they’re not all coming from Club 935.”
He noted increased CMPD presence after crimes and added security inside the building.
Still, residents are now looking to the building’s owner Rudy Esquivel for answers.
“First of all, we’re in the rental business,” said Esquivel. “So, as soon as we have something to tell you, we will contact you.”
“The landlord’s been very dismissive of our concerns for years now,” said Goldstein. “He’s been to our community meetings, and we’ve asked him about the gunfire and he’s literally said ‘shoot back.'”
Esquivel had no further comment after the federal sentencing Thursday.
Residents say they don’t care if another bar goes there, if it’s safe.
Shiver will also have to pay restitution in the amount of $28,635 dollars, a $25,000 fine.
Prosecutors say he has a prior tax crime conviction involving failure to file three years of tax returns for L.A. Inc.
