Two Nashville Men Plead Guilty to Gun and Drug Crimes

One Defendant Admits Shooting and Blinding 62-Year-Old Man

NASHVILLE Tenn., November 10, 2016 - George Ivory aka GI, 27, and Anthony Laquesha Coleman aka Scrappy, 30, both of Nashville, Tenn., pleaded guilty today to gun and drug offenses which they committed in the area of 16th Avenue North and Buchanan Street in North Nashville, announced David Rivera, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

George Ivory admitted that he was selling crack cocaine in that area on May 1, 2015, when he and another drug dealer got into a verbal dispute about who could sell drugs in that area.  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 man declined.  Ivory then struck that man and his female companion with a gun and demanded the man’s money.  Ivory then shot the man three times, with at least one shot striking him in the head.  Ivory then fled the area and threw the firearm 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.  Ivory’s previous felony convictions include two state convictions in 2010 for facilitation of second degree murder and sexual battery without consent.  Ivory has 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 the statement of facts, 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.

          

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sunny A.M. Koshy and Ahmed Safeeullah.