Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Nashville Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Federal Firearms Violations Resulting From Shooting 62 Year-Old Man
Convicted Felon Possessed Ammunition
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – September 7, 2017 – George Ivory aka GI, 27, of Nashville, Tenn., was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, for being a felon in possession of ammunition and other federal drug and firearm offenses, as a result of shooting 62 year-old Cecil Grissette on May 1, 2015, announced Mark H. Wildasin, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. Although the firearm used during the commission of the crime was not recovered, shell casings found at the scene formed the basis for the charge.
“As this case demonstrates, drug dealing and gun violence are inextricably linked and have serious consequences, said U.S. Attorney Wildasin. “Cases such as this remain a top priority of this office and will be diligently pursued by this office and our law enforcement partners.”
Ivory was indicted on May 27, 2015, and pleaded guilty in November 2016, to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, attempted Hobbs Act robbery, discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
According to court documents, Cecil Grissette was in the area of 16th Avenue North and Buchanon Street, in Nashville, attempting to buy crack cocaine from an individual when Ivory demanded that Grissette buy crack cocaine from him instead. When Grissette decided to buy the drugs from the other dealer, Ivory shot Grissette in the head, torso, and leg. Grissette survived the shooting but was left blinded and received other life altering injuries as a result.
In pronouncing the sentence, Senior U.S. District Judge Marvin E. Aspen of the Northern District of Illinois, sitting by designation in the Middle District of Tennessee, stated that he hopes Ivory will "smarten up" and decide whether he wants to be involved in street life when he gets out of prison and if he chooses to do so, Judge Aspen warned Ivory that he would spend the rest of his life in prison.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorneys Sunny A.M. Koshy and Ahmed Safeeullah prosecuted the case.
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