Retired Federal Air Marshal Charged with Threatening Former Coworkers

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that a former federal air marshal with the Newark, New Jersey field office has been charged by indictment with making various threats against his former colleagues.

An indictment was unsealed today charging Julian Terrell Turk, 47, of Levittown, PA, with interstate communication of threats. Turk, who filed multiple Equal Employment Opportunity complaints against the Federal Air Marshal Service, and more specifically against FAM Executive Management of the Newark Field Office, allegedly contacted a retired Navy SEAL for information on how to make and use explosives and also to provide a list of books and resources on long range rifle shooting.

In an April 13 email to a former coworker, Turk wrote:

“There comes a time in one's life that he has to take a stand against what's ‘right’ and not ‘white’ here, now, is my chance to do that. These (expletive) have gone out of their way to (expletive) with me in the worst way possible. And frankly, I've had a Got Damn nuff of it. So, I've decided to (expletive) with them. I'm going to take the fight to these (expletive)!”… “I'd never ask one of yall to take-on something that would get any of you in trouble. But sometimes enough is enough and you have to take a stand. These (expletive) think they're untouchable and that they can't be gotten to. I'm going to show them how to (expletive) with someone.” . . . “As I've said, I'm taking the fight to these (expletive) now. Know that, I'd never take my own life, my children are always a for-thought on my mind. But what kind of man would I be if I didn't live up to my motto and creed of ‘Being a Man for Others!’ So I've come up with a plan to get them for what they've done to me.”

Turk also sent a series of emails to a former marshal in which he said, among other things, “I've come up with a plan to get them for what they've done to me. In the event that something happens to me, please make sure to look after my children.”

If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of five years in prison, three years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment.

The case was investigated by FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joseph A. LaBar.