Aryan Nation Gang Member Convicted of Burglarizing Wal-Mart

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit obtained Burglary and Theft convictions against Aryan Nation gang member Jason K. Ivey, 43, after he unlawfully entered Wal-Mart and stole merchandise. Judge Steve Sword set the case for sentencing on June 30.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney TaKisha Fitzgerald explained to the jury that on September 22, 2015, Knoxville Police Department Officers Charles Roach and Grant Marshall responded to a burglary at the Wal-Mart at 3051 Kinzel Way. Once on scene, Wal-Mart Loss Prevention officers explained that they observed Ivey on surveillance cameras stealing steaks and concealing them in his pants. Wal-Mart had previously banned Ivey from entering onto any Wal-Mart property on May 4, 2015, after he stole various tools from the Wal-Mart on University Commons Way.

“”This Office will continue to argue for lengthy sentences for gang members,”” said DA Charme Allen.””While this case could not be prosecuted under the gang enhancement statute, other statutes allow us to use a criminal’s gang affiliation as an enhancing factor to determine their sentence length.””

At sentencing, prosecutors will also seek an enhanced sentence due to Ivey’s criminal history, which includes two Burglary convictions and a conviction for selling cocaine in Campbell County, an Anderson County Theft conviction, and a previous Knox County Theft conviction. Burglary is a Class D felony that carries a punishment between four and eight years based on Ivey’s criminal history.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.