This website serves as a resource for property owners affected by coordinated efforts to manipulate property values in gentrifying neighborhoods. While gentrification is often discussed in terms of rising prices, there is a hidden, destructive component: the simultaneous and intentional suppression of property values to facilitate predatory flipping.
Embedded Files
Through documented evidence, pending litigation, and detailed accounts, I am exposing how zoning irregularities, administrative harassment, and systemic misconduct are used to strip homeowners of their equity. If you believe your property has been targeted by these practices—particularly within a two-mile radius of South 7th St and Fullwood St—this site provides practical guidance on how to secure your rights, navigate the court system, and file claims for compensation.
THE PROBLEM:
Simultaneously DRIVING DOWN property values while UP at the same time.
- Zoning
The DOWN part is the problem and the tactics being used are against NC land laws. Some of them are legal too and will blow your mind! Unfortunately driving down value is necessary in order for flipping to work since 99% of flippers use the mortgage system. Ever hear the investment strategy "never use your own money..." You can't refinance (BRRR: buy, rehab, refinance, repeat) if you buy without something to refinance against.
Has anyone noticed there is always a high and low sale right next to each other? What if there was only a high and a high or a low and a low, then nobody could refinance and take cash out for flips. Not a big deal unless you are the target, like I was, to be used to generate the lows. Land is a specific target since it isn't subjective like a house is that sits on the land. A land sale can price down any property around it by generating a straightforward land price. There are two components to valuing real estate.
Land Value + Home Value = Property Value
This is a resource for anyone affected to help you take action and/or submit a claim to ask for compensation.
This website is for informational purposes and accounts for all the events supporting my findings. The information presented is in no way to be interpreted as a threat other than through civil penalties and criminal punishment via the legal/court system. This website is also meant to help homeowners up to a .59 mile radius (those owning properties up to two miles from the location should also fill out the form below, as I will fight to include the maximum radius allowed by the court for home valuation) from South 7th St and Fullwood St seek compensation for Zoning's wrongdoings and anyone linked to them that was involved.
I am certain these events are also taking place in other areas of town (ex North side Red Cross St area). Please reach out to derekwragge@gmail.com to share your story or if you need help with basic info on how to file a lawsuit or find an attonrey (heads up, I could not find anyone local willing to sue the City. It is a scary process being stuck living somewhere you have to sue. This website exists because of that and what I had to go through. If enough people put their foot down though, this will be class action and we can do it. Please do it!)
If starting your own lawsuit, you will need to file at the Federal Courthouse at 2 Princess St. Wilmington NC 28401. The entrance is on the side of the building at 2 princess street. Bring only your ID and payment if you are paying the filing fee. Ask to go to the clerk of court then ask the secretary for forms to file a lawsuit "Pro Se" and that you would like a court appointed mediator. Ask for a court appointed mediator if you do not have an attorney however please not that this step is up to you and also one I am contemplating. A court appointed attorney might not be working in your best interest although they are suppose to. I had one that was working in the exact opposite so I know this can happen and is likey, especially in an expenisve lawsuit like this.
Think about it- my lawsuit is worth 213 milllion - potentially over 680 million. Although illigal, all Zoning would have to do is pay the court appointed mediator anything less than that to save them them millions of dollars. The horribe thing is that "although illigal" these people are the ones policing the law, so who is going to stop them other than the US government?
You can file for free or it's $495. The staff is very helpful and will even provide you with the forms (unlike the New Hanover County Courthouse, which wouldn't even let me file critical documents. The New Hanover County Clerk of Court staff told me I needed an attorney to file (which isn't true). They flashed a gun at me as an indication to leave after their judge didn't show up to one of my hearings and another time, walked out of the office and refused to let me file, which cost me a rental house). All of this is accounted for below with an event log, citations to documents, forged documents, videos, and more under "Summary of Events." I am praying for the day these events stop but they continue to this day via fake Airbnb guests, time consumption, pulling me over constnatly and saying my taillight is out (which it is not) or my registration has expired (it hasn't), police parking and sitting outside my house, and other forms of light harassment.
LITTLE THINGS MATTER because they cause BIG THINGS
Side note:
Yes, your home is "priceless."
Still though,
Nobody ever complained about selling their home for too much money.
Anyone would complain about giving away their home (or in my case, four) but anyone giving away their home doesn't have much power other than to complain. They probably don't have time to even complain though because they will be forced to scramble justtrying to survive.
This is the issue and this is where I put my foot down and you can too by filling out this quick jotform which registers you (must own property within two miles from downtown Wilmington) to receive compensation.
If you own property within two miles from downtown Wilmington,
the events that happened to me affected you and you are owed money!
I had four properties and still should, three anyway but I will have four again if Zoning wants to save money. I owned an entire street. How much did I make selling it? $0
I dropped them to the lowest prices in town over the course of 2+ years in one of the nations fastest growing areas too.
I'm a licensed real estate agent too. I find it wild anyone would think I would not make it my life mission to figure out what is wrong with that. Especially as I see the skyline double yet I still can't sell the lowest priced properties on the market. Not even one of them! Do I need to buy a used shed for $10,000 then list it for $500,000 because $88,000 didn't work and neither did $25,000. There is a problem with that and it is obviously being manipulated. If I was buying a property for 1/4 of it's value, I would be doing everything known to mankind to get it closed vs not even calling the closing attorney to ask how to get it closed and finding a solution.
Latest event: The "tenant" that moved into my foreclosed home comes running onto my property next door and runs behind my car as I'm backing up. Who does that?! This is who: a corrupt, strategic partnership with a mission to make me look bad. All it takes is a bad relationship with someone in zoning for them to pick up the phone and call a few department heads. That's it! They get paid to make that phone call too from my tax money paying them.
Imagine if your life savings went from 8.3 million to $-2,400 + $-200/day + filing for bankruptcy and about to be homeless while your business and the 650 retails stores you are in bleeds out because you can't fund it or think straight from all this... because some random B#### in zoning nominated you to be used in a price down scheme against your will.
Imagine if your life savings went from 8.3 million to $-2,400 + $-200/day + filing for bankruptcy and about to be homeless while your business and the 650 retails stores you are in bleeds out because you can't fund it or think straight from all this... because some random B#### in zoning nominated you to be used in a price down scheme against your will.
I would have earned more money selling a .50 cent cup of lemonade vs selling any of my properties.
I literally almost died of malnurishment, was jailed four times in one year, denied food stamps three times even after being hospitalized.. and they
I literally almost died of malnurishment, was jailed four times in one year, denied food stamps three times even after being hospitalized.. and they
STILL. KEEP. GOING.
STILL. KEEP. GOING.
In fact, today, 6/6/2026 I have $2,400 in civil fines for playing music on a $40 soundbar from Wal-Mart in my living room. I am threatened that if I don't move my shed, I will be charged $200/day too. Of course, Bud Dealy can leave a used shed in front of my house no problem on SOMEONE ELSE'S LAND and he gets 30 days to move it a year later with no fine. ME- a property I have paid taxes on for over 10 years- can't even have a shed that I bought!! The police showed up within one minute of it being dropped off and created an entire show right here at 613 Fullwood Street.
Taking Action
Taking Action
Currently with the United State Supreme Court. Read the full document here
A Modern Day Holocaust
A Modern Day Holocaust
Happening right in front of you
Happening right in front of you
[Wilmington NC 2026]
This website is devoted to educating the public on real estate pricing manipulation, which is frequently found in gentrifying neighborhoods where home flipping is prevalent.
There is a component to gentrification that is not mentioned.
It is the act of simultaneously driving down property values as well as up at the same time.
Tactics used to PRICE DOWN properties:
Zoning creating rules on your land that go against state laws
Zoning re-addressing properties to remove "price down" data ex) a lot is subdivided and the property value drops. This data is used to justify accepting owner prices for a home sale. The data is then removed by re-addressing the property to another number.
Scare Tactics: Zoning partners with a developer and allows them to turn used cabins into still, used cabins.
Skewed Perceived Value. The 428sq/ft used cabins are then listed for $500,000
False imprisonment/jailing residence to financially hurt them
Police misconduct and harassment to financially hurt them ex) Your car is randomly towed from your own driveway. You are then told, after giving the VIN number to law enforcement, trying to locate it, that the car you had just purchased was actually stolen and then involved in an accident (none of that actually happened though but the one source you count on for help, provides you with this answer)
The Clerk of Court denying property owners their right to file for bankruptcy, which is usually the only option a homeowner has for an attempt to save their property
The Clerk of Court recording information regarding the sale secondary to the homeowners actions. Ex) A homeowner figures out how to file for bankruptcy themselves online and thinks they saved their home. The clerk of court then records the sale of the home prior to the date that the homeowner filed for bankruptcy. The Clerk of Court waits for the homeowner to make their move first so they can void any action a homeowner has taken in an attempt to save their home.
We all know about increasing home values which increases taxes and can drive people out. Nobody ever talks about being robbed dry during the process. To put things in perspective- I had four properties and listed them to execute a new investment strategy.
After two years on the market, not one of them sold (as I watched the city's skyline double in size). I brought them down to the lowest prices in town too. If I sold a cup of lemonaid for .19 cents, I would have made more selling lemonaid than I did trying to sell my real estate.
You don't hear these stories because these people who are targeted don't have the resources to do anything onces they are left with a $2,000 closing check and no home. Their mission at that point is survive. Not many attorney's are willing to help someone with $0 and no evidence as to what just happened or even an idea how.
I have my real estate license and it took me over a year to figure out how this was done! Believe it or not, I burned my entire wardrobe trying to figure it out. I once read a book that said try doing the opposite of your normal routine. It forces your brain to change the way it thinks. Crazy enough- this work. Four pieces of information all collided in my head that day as I was giving away my new lawnmower too.
This moment was one I will never forget. It was the biggest releif I had had in over a year. It took me another year to get out of a trap I was in of being terrorized by local government constanty imprisoning me for no reason. I had pending charges and endless court dates for over a year, attending every one of them yet still going to jail.
I was arrested and thrown in jail four times in less than a year, for playing music.
I was playing music from a single speaker in my living room from Wal-Mart. I have never even had more than one traffic ticket in my entire life.
One day I was walking to the store and I was abducted and taken to jail. No phone, nobody I could call, my cash taken and locked into a closed office, then left 8 miles from my home outside of Willmington NC, left to walk home as the sun was beginning to set. It was dark by the time I had reach .5 miles so I had to hitchhike, which could have put me right back in jail.
Jail is the worst experience you could ever imagine. I honestly would rather be dead and think every state should have the death penalty because not even a murderer deserves to be stuck in a room with absolutely nothing to do all day and night.
The lights are always on, all you hear 24/7 is people screaming, yelling, and banging their heads against the wall. Theiir is not a moment of silence the entire time. The place is run by people who are fueled by human torcher. It's a system that has nobody legitimate or a 3rd party auditiing it. It's sickening because once you are there, there is little you can do to get out.
Imagine walking down the street then the next thing you know you are tied up and locked into a freezing room in the middle of nowhere. You get a metal bed to sleep on and the worst part- there is absolutly nothing to do other than make conversation with whoever your roomate is. One of mine had killed his child by accident.
If you are on medication- forget it. You don't get it anymore. I was on PreP at the time and had intercourse before they took me. After being promised the jail would have it, as I asked over and over if I could take the bottle with me which sat right in front of me- the jail nurses answer was this
"you're not having sex in jail."
Tactics used to PRICE DOWN properties in gentrifying neighborhoods:
Zoning creating rules on your land that go against state laws
Zoning re-addressing properties to remove "price down" data ex) a lot is subdivided and the property value drops. This data is used to justify accepting owner prices for a home sale. The data is then removed by re-addressing the property to another number.
Scare Tactics: Zoning partners with a developer and allows them to turn used cabins into still, used cabins.
Skewed Perceived Value. The 428sq/ft used cabins are then listed for $500,000
False imprisonment/jailing residence to financially hurt them
Police misconduct and harassment to financially hurt them ex) Your car is randomly towed from your own driveway. You are then told, after giving the VIN number to law enforcement, trying to locate it, that the car you had just purchased was actually stolen and then involved in an accident (none of that actually happened though but the one source you count on for help, provides you with this answer)
The Clerk of Court denying property owners their right to file for bankruptcy, which is usually the only option a homeowner has for an attempt to save their property
The Clerk of Court recording information regarding the sale secondary to the homeowners actions. Ex) A homeowner figures out how to file for bankruptcy themselves online and thinks they saved their home. The clerk of court then records the sale of the home prior to the date that the homeowner filed for bankruptcy. The Clerk of Court waits for the homeowner to make their move first so they can void any action a homeowner has taken in an attempt to save their home.
All of this happened to me. I was hospitalized for malnourishment, jailed four times, and could have sold a glass of lemonade for .50 cents and made more money doing that then selling the four properties I had and still should have had
my sales contract not had been canceled via zoning's randomly creating a rule on my lot that goes against NC land laws (5/1/2026 update: Three police and a zoning offical shoed up within one minute of my shed being dropped off. Zoning declared I am not even allowed to put a shed on my lot. This is a lot I have owned and paid taxes on for over 10 years. All of my neighbors have sheds. I not been denied filing for bankruptcy at the clerk of court,
Unless for charitable cause, nobody has ever said "Some day I want to give away my home once the market is doing well"
Actions taken:
Three lawsuits have been filed against Wilmington NC and the state of North Carolina. A class action lawsuit will accompany them for any residence owning property within a two mile radius of downtown.
Actions to take if this has happened to you:
If the tactics above are being used in your city, please take initiative and file a lawsuit at the closest Federal Courthouse. Ask for a court appointed mediator (lawyer). You can file for free.
Please email derek@wraggerealestate.com if you have any questions about filing or just want to share your story. This is a major issue nationwide.
Tampering with peoples largest assets and robbing them dry is wrong. It's called stealing and it's a criminal act.
I am committed to making certain that anyone involved in asset robbing is charged with attempted murder, put in prison, and gets to experience what it is like to be randomly abducted, robbed, then left 8 miles from their home 4 days later, perhaps four times too.
*Posted 5/14/2026 as quickly as I could just in case karma sends me to heaven
"The Wilmington Grievance Report"
"The Wilmington Grievance Report"
Executive Summary & At a Glance
Mission Statement: A chronological account of alleged zoning misconduct, law enforcement overreach, and systemic real estate manipulation affecting properties on Fullwood St..1
Key Impact Metrics:
2. Zoning & Real Estate Manipulation
The Problem: Focus on the timeline starting Fall 2021 regarding Kathryn Thurston and the Wilmington Zoning Department.1
Specific Allegations:
Canceled Builds: Details on the 613 Fullwood project cancellation and influenced builders.1
Data Discrepancies: The $78,000 "phantom" fire damage and removal of permitted bedroom additions at 619 Fullwood.1
Easement Disputes: Issues regarding the $500 "design adjustment" and Right of Way permit discrepancies.1
3. Law Enforcement & Judicial Conduct
Incidents of Misconduct: Details on the forced eviction of non-paying "tenants" and the subsequent trespassing citations issued against you on your own property.1
The "Music" Arrests: A section dedicated to the arrests and 7-day incarceration for playing music as a form of demonstration.1
Judicial Complaints: Documentation of the 5/6/2025 complaint regarding a judge failing to appear and the alleged display of a firearm in the courthouse.1
4. Human Rights & Health Impact
Medical Neglect: Details on the denial of Descovy (PreP) medication during incarceration and the resulting Novant Health hospitalization for starvation/dehydration.1
Civil Rights: Documentation of the inability to vote on election day due to restricted phone use while incarcerated.1
5. Evidence & Downloads
Repository: Provide links to your Google Drive folders containing the [link removed], [link removed], and [link removed].1
Actionable Next Steps to Build the Site:
Actionable Next Steps to Build the Site:
Open Google Sites.
Select a Template: Use the "Project" or "Blank" template.
Copy-Paste Content: Use the structure above to organize your "Overview 05-01-2026 Updated" text into the corresponding pages.
Insert Links: Highlight your text and use the "Insert Link" icon to attach the Google Drive URLs found in your document.
Publish: Click the "Publish" button at the top right to make it a public web address.
Would you like me to draft a more concise, "At a Glance" executive summary specifically for your website's homepage?
I would like what you summarized put onto a google site
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Gemini response
As an AI, I cannot directly build, host, or publish a website on your behalf. However, I have synthesized the extensive data from your grievances into a professional website architecture that you can copy and paste into Google Sites to create a public-facing repository of your claims against the City of Wilmington.
At a Glance: The Wilmington Grievance Report
At a Glance: The Wilmington Grievance Report
Key Decision Point: For maximum impact, use a "Project" template in Google Sites. This layout is optimized for the dense evidence and chronological storytelling required for your case.
## Page 1: Home – Executive Summary
## Page 1: Home – Executive Summary
Headline: Systematic Grievances Against the City of Wilmington, NC1
Mission: A detailed account of alleged misconduct within the Zoning Department and law enforcement, resulting in significant financial and personal damages.1
Primary Allegations:
Zoning Interference: Manipulation of property sales and building projects by Kathryn Thurston.1
Civil Rights Violations: False arrests and imprisonment for non-violent demonstrations (playing music).1
Financial Impact: Personal losses exceeding $6 million and a broader property value impact estimated at $219 million.1
Legal Standing: List active cases: 7:25-cv-01039, 7:25-cv-01084, 7-25-cv-01392, and Ch 13 filing 25-04822-5-DMW.1
## Page 2: Zoning & Real Estate Manipulation
## Page 2: Zoning & Real Estate Manipulation
The Thurston Influence: Detailing the cancellation of the 613 Fullwood build and subsequent "design adjustment" fees that obstructed sales.1
Evidence of Data Discrepancies:
Phantom Fire: Documenting the $78,000 assigned fire damage for an event that allegedly never occurred.1
Square Footage Reduction: The removal of a permitted bedroom addition at 619 Fullwood, valued at $85,000.1
Market Control: Evidence of property addresses being removed and data manipulation to artificially increase days on market.1
## Page 3: Law Enforcement & Judicial Misconduct
## Page 3: Law Enforcement & Judicial Misconduct
False Imprisonment: Narrative of the 7-day incarceration for playing music as a form of demonstration.1
Trespassing Disputes: Documentation of being cited for trespassing on your own property while attempting to manage non-paying occupants.1
Courthouse Incidents:
## Page 4: Human Rights & Medical Neglect
## Page 4: Human Rights & Medical Neglect
Medical Endangerment: Denial of Descovy (PreP) medication during incarceration, placing you at perceived high risk for HIV.1
Hospitalization: Details of the Novant Health visit for starvation and dehydration following asset control.1
Disenfranchisement: Inability to vote on election day due to restricted communication while in custody.1
Evidence Repository
Evidence Repository
See the following document "Overview of Events"
Account of events + links to supporting evidence:
[Work in progress]
Overview 05-01-2026 Updated.docxPage updated
Google Sites
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