COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Izell D. Grissett, a/k/a “Buddy”, age 27, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court by United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. of Columbia. Grissett was sentenced to LIFE imprisonment plus 120 months (10 years) consecutive on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine and more than 280 grams of “crack” cocaine, robbery affecting interstate commerce (Hobbs Act), brandishing and discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and a drug trafficking offense (924(c)), possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of “crack” cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented at the trial and in other hearings connected to the case, established that from 2005 until his arrest in 2013, Grissett sold multi-kilograms of cocaine and crack cocaine in and around the Columbia area. In 2010, Grissett and a co-defendant (who previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 years) robbed their drug suppliers of two kilograms of cocaine. In executing the robbery Grissett shot two persons, killing one person. The second victim sustained life-threatening injuries.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Richland County Sheriff?s Department and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys William Witherspoon and Nancy Wicker of the Columbia office handled the case.