Six members of a gang who committed a string of violent strong arm robberies in Chattanooga in a week's period in February 2009 entered guilty pleas on Thursday afternoon.

Three young defendants who wielded guns during the holdups - Anthony Bell, Kelvin Crayton and Kelvin White - were sentenced to 10 years in state prison.

The driver - 34-year-old Linda Ramsey - got five years.

Larry Jennings, 24, and Marquel Morris, 20, were given six-year terms.

The pleas before Criminal Court Judge Don Poole came after several afternoons of hearings on motions to suppress confessions given by several defendants.

During a hearing on Monday afternoon, a guard noticed a home-made shank in White's sock.

Prosecutor Neal Pinkston said the gang rode around in a red Ford Explorer and robbed people they encountered in Brainerd and other neighborhoods.

He said they mainly took cash, but also an MP3 player and jewelry.

One of the brutal robberies was a vicious attack on an 86-year-old legally blind woman.

Det. James Hostetter earlier said the group told him the money was for the Rolling 20s gang.

He said the group started out robbing Hispanics, "but they were not getting enough money so they moved up to more affluent neighborhoods."

After their initial hearing in the case, General Sessions Court Judge Bob Moon had commented, "The reign of terror by these defendants is over."

The 86-year-old woman, her face still battered from the attack, had testified about being alone and opening the door after hearing a knock. She said she was attacked by three males. One of the robbers pushed her, and she fell into the kitchen. She got up, and one of the other suspects hurled her into the living room, where he stood over her with a gun pointed at her while the other two suspects ransacked her residence screaming, “Where’s the money?”

The elderly victim told them the only money she had was in her purse. The suspects then took her money, credit cards and the gold wedding ring from her finger.

The woman, whose injuries included broken ribs, said she pleaded with the trio, "Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me."

Darin Griffin told of being by the road in his broken-down car and having a red Ford Explorer drive up. One of those inside asked if he needed help.

He said after the vehicle rounded a corner, a short time later he was attacked by several youths, including one armed with a rifle. He said at one point he grabbed the rifle, but then he noticed it was not loaded. He said one of the robbers took the gun away from him and hit him in the head with it. A shot was fired from a handgun during the incident.

He said the robbers took his wallet and ran off. He said he ran a short distance after them. "I was calling them cowards for taking my wallet."

Mr. Griffin said he had only $3 in the wallet, but soon learned they had used his bank card at numerous gas stations and eating places. His voting card was also taken.

Another victim told of robbers attacking him at the driveway of his home. He said a gun was placed to his head as his wallet as well as his house and car keys were removed.

Two Hispanic men told of just arriving with a third man in front of a house on Dodds Avenue at 12:10 a.m. They said three black males came out from behind a nearby vacant house, including one armed with a 9 mm handgun.

Two of the robbers began beating two of the victims, while the gunman guarded the third one. That man said when the gunman turned the other way, he took the opportunity to run away. He said he immediately began calling 911 on his cell phone. He said police arrived within 5-6 minutes.

He said he saw a red Ford Explorer at the scene, and it tried to back toward him.

That robbery yielded a cell phone and a small amount of money.

Det. Hostetter said a team of detectives began working on the case, and a break came after a home invasion at E. 32nd and Jerome. He said several of the defendants were seen walking nearby and were picked up for questioning. He said Ms. Ramsey drove up in the red Ford Explorer and had one of the juveniles with her. They were also taken in to police headquarters.

He said the six were questioned separately and some began to give confessions.

He said Bell was always the gunman and that Ms. Jennings was the driver. He said a couple of the group would act as lookouts. He said Jennings had been shot on a couple of occasions. He said Jennings was not able to carry a weapon, but he wanted to be around someone who was armed so he gave Ms. Ramsey the money to buy the 9 mm handgun. He said Jennings and White were the "heavies" who beat up the victims.

The detective said ammunition was found in Jennings' pocket that matched the 9 mm. The loaded handgun was found nearby. He said White was found to be wearing the gold ring taken from the elderly woman.

He said a search of Ms. Ramsey's house turned up Mr. Griffin's voting card as well as a rifle and a pistol. He said there was a burn area outside the house where some of the stolen items had been partially burned.

He said items found in the red Ford Explorer included the wallet and keys belonging to the man whose home was invaded as well as a receipt from use of the Griffin bank card.

Attorney Alan Dunn said Bell is also facing the possible revocation of a 10-year sentence out of Walker County, Ga., for aggravated assault and theft by taking. He said Bell wanted to do his time in Georgia first. He said prosecutors had agreed that the Georgia time could count toward the Tennessee time.

Both Crayton and White were juveniles at the time of their arrests.

Bell said he went through the ninth grade at Brainerd, and Crayton said he went through the 11th grade at Central.

Crayton told the judge he was submitting his guilty plea on his 19th birthday.