Officials at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have released details about two more convicted felons in separate cases who broke the law while using a handgun.
One of the two felons used a firearm to commit a violent crime.
This, according to separate press releases that federal officials published late last week.
Cody Davis, 28, pleaded guilty in federal court to armed carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, according to one statement.
“According to information presented in Court, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on December 21, 2018, the victim, J.G., was asleep in his vehicle in the parking lot of a business on White Station Road [in Memphis], when the suspect approached him and pointed a gun. The suspect took the victim’s cell phone, ordered him out of the car, told him to walk around the corner, and then drove off with the victim’s Audi A4. The armed robbery was captured on surveillance video,” the press release said.
“The Audi A4 was recovered several days later. In the vehicle was a cell phone that did not belong to the victim. Fingerprints on the cell phone belonged to Davis. On January 4, 2019, detectives conducted surveillance at the defendant’s residence. While there, detectives observed Davis depart the residence and enter a vehicle. Davis disregarded several traffic signals and was stopped by law enforcement. Detectives recovered a tan Century Arms 9mm pistol under the driver’s seat, loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition.”
The defendant, the press release went on to say, later waived his Miranda rights and admitted he was a convicted felon, committed the carjacking, and possessed the firearm that law enforcement found in his vehicle.
“Further investigation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that the Century Arms 9mm caliber pistol and the Audi A4 were manufactured outside the State of Tennessee,” according to the press release.
“As a result of his prior felony convictions, including robbery and aggravated burglary, Davis is prohibited by federal law from possession of firearms or ammunition.”
The defendant pled guilty this month before U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris. Officials have scheduled a sentencing hearing for Dec. 3, where Davis faces a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment, the press release said.
Court officials, in a second press release, said they sentenced Donald Blaine Ashby, 39, to 180 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
“Under our Carjacking Initiative, we are continuing to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to prioritize and target carjacking cases for aggressive federal prosecution,” U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant (pictured above) said about the arrest. “There is a heavy price to pay for recidivist violence and lawlessness, and Davis will now pay that price with a significant sentence in federal prison. Hopefully, it will also send a strong deterrent message to others to avoid throwing their lives away by committing senseless gun crimes.”
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
