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Press Release

Convicted Felon Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. – A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment late yesterday charging a Henrico man with possessing 100 grams or more of heroin with the intent to distribute and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to the indictment, Mervin Turner, 37, is charged with possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams of more of heroin. If convicted on this count, Turner faces a mandatory minimum term of 5 years in prison and maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. Turner is also charged with possession of a semi-automatic pistol, and if convicted he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. 

Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of a renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Scott W. Hoernke, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Washington Field Division, Colonel Gary T. Settle, Superintendent of Virginia State Police, and Alfred Durham, Chief of Richmond Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erik S. Siebert and Kenneth Simon are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:18-cr-158.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Contact

Joshua Stueve
Director of Communications
joshua.stueve@usdoj.gov

Updated December 19, 2018

Topics
Drug Trafficking
Firearms Offenses
Project Safe Neighborhoods