Two men pleaded guilty in court to gun and drug charges stemming from last year.
According to the David Rivera's office, 27-year-old George Ivory aka GI and 30-year-old Anthony Laquesha Coleman aka Scrappy - both of Nashville, pleaded guilty Thursday.
Ivory admitted that he was selling crack cocaine in May last year, when he and another drug dealer got into a verbal dispute about who could sell drugs in the area of 16th Avenue North and Buchanan Street in North Nashville.
During that argument, a 62- year-old man tried to buy about $60 of crack cocaine from the other drug dealer. Ivory demanded that the man buy crack from him instead, but the wouldn't.
Ivory hit the man and the girl with him with a gun and robbed him before shooting him three times, with at least one shot striking him in the head.
Ivory ran from the scene and threw the gun into the Cumberland River. The victim survived, but was blinded and suffers from other serious long term health effects.
Ivory was later arrested and charged federally with committing a robbery affecting interstate commerce, discharging a firearm during a violent or drug related felony, possessing ammunition as a felon, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
His previous felony convictions include two state convictions in 2010 for facilitation of second degree murder and sexual battery without consent.
On Thursday, he entered into a plea agreement which calls for a sentence of 25 years in prison. There is no parole from federal sentences.
An investigation into Ivory’s conduct led to federal charges against Anthony Laquesha Coleman aka Scrappy.
Coleman pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to statements, Coleman was selling crack cocaine near a residence located in the 16th Avenue North and Buchanan Street area of Nashville on March 23, 2015.
The person who lived in that home asked Coleman not to sell drugs around her house. Coleman began arguing with that woman and one of her female friends. Coleman then obtained a loaded pistol from one of his friends and continued threatening the women. He eventually went into a rooming house across the street. One of the women called police for assistance and reported that children were in the area during this incident. Metro Nashville police officers responded and arrested Coleman, who had attempted to discard the gun and drugs.
Coleman has also entered into a plea agreement which calls for a sentence of 20 years in prison, since Coleman’s prior felony convictions make him a Career Offender under federal law.
