JACKSON, TN – Lavokeous Ivory, 29, is headed to federal prison for a solid seven years after a brazen attempt to evade police ended with a gunshot and his arrest for illegal firearm possession. U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced the sentence Thursday, closing a case that exposed a repeat offender flouting the law.
The trouble started August 6, 2021, in Milan, Tennessee. Officers responded to a frantic call about Ivory allegedly pounding on a woman’s windows and door, demanding entry. When police arrived, Ivory bolted. A foot chase ensued, and as he ran, a pistol tumbled from his waistband. Instead of surrendering, Ivory attempted to ditch the weapon by throwing it onto the roof of the residence. The gun discharged during the toss, sending a bullet into the side of the house.
Officers weren’t about to let him get away. Despite the gunshot, Ivory tried to grab the pistol again before finally dropping it and being taken into custody. The incident wasn’t an isolated incident. Ivory had already been convicted of a felony and was on federal supervised release for another pair of illegal firearm possessions – one in February 2016, and a second on a separate date that same month. Federal law clearly prohibits convicted felons from owning guns or ammunition.
U.S. District Judge J. Daniel Breen didn’t mince words. He sentenced Ivory to 70 months for the August 2021 gun possession, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. But the judge didn’t stop there. Recognizing Ivory’s blatant disregard for the law, Breen also ruled that Ivory violated the terms of his existing supervised release and tacked on an additional 14 months to the sentence, bringing the total to 84 months behind bars. Forget about parole – there’s none in the federal system.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Milan Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorney Josh Morrow skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the lengthy sentence. Ritz praised Morrow’s work, highlighting the importance of keeping dangerous offenders off the streets.
Ivory’s case serves as a stark reminder that illegally possessing a firearm while a convicted felon carries severe consequences. The sentence sends a message: those who repeatedly break the law and endanger the public will face the full force of federal prosecution. The streets of Jackson, and beyond, are a little safer with him locked up.
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