Tennessee Man Found with Gun and Marijuana Sentenced to More Than 5 Years in Federal Prison

A man who was stopped for a traffic violation, found to be in possession of marijuana and a gun was sentenced August 14, 2023, to more than 5 years in federal prison.

Sidney Turner, age 58, from Memphis, Tennessee, received the prison term after a March 29, 2023, guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a felon and an unlawful drug user.

Evidence in the case revealed during a traffic stop for a moving violation, Turner was found to be driving without a valid license, and was found to be in possession of marijuana and a gun.

Turner has a lengthy criminal history.  He was previously convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture, sell, or deliver; and felon in possession of a handgun.

Turner was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand to 70 months’ imprisonment.  He must also serve a 2-year term of supervised release after the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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 gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Turner is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security, Woodbury County, Iowa Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild. 

Court file information at https://ecf.iand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. 

The case file number is 22-4096.

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