Vice Lord Repeat Offender Sentenced to Serve Thirty Years

DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the Career Gang Unit obtained a thirty-year sentence against a Vice Lord gang member with eighteen prior felony convictions.  George Thomas Bryant, 33, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Sell Fentanyl, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.  Judge Hector Sanchez ordered Bryant to serve thirty years in prison consecutive to a parole revocation for cases out of Jefferson County.

Bryant was set to begin trial tomorrow, but in a plea announcement today, Assistant District Attorney TaKisha Fitzgerald explained to the court that on April 4, 2023, Ofc. Brian Ritter with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bryant on Clinton Highway.  Bryant appeared nervous and gave a false name to officers.  Ofc. Tucker Blakely could observe a bag of drugs in the driver’s door and ordered Bryant out of the car.  Bryant attempted to close his car door and put the car in drive to evade arrest, but Ofc. Blakely and Ofc. Ritter were able to remove Bryant from the car and place him under arrest.  A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed multiple containers of fentanyl packaged for resale, $1957, multiple digital scales, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun.

“Overdose deaths are decreasing, and aggressive prosecution of traffickers dealing fentanyl helps save lives,” said DA Allen. 

Bryant has eighteen prior felony convictions out of Jefferson and Knox Counties for Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, Theft, and Vandalism cases.  He has also been identified as a member of the Vice Lords criminal gang.  Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Kaitlyn Smith aided in the prosecution of this case.

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.