After a four-day jury trial in Atlanta, Traon Turk was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Turk had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg stated, "Turk is a multi-convicted felon who peddled deadly drugs and illegally carried a loaded firearm. My office is proud to partner with federal and local law enforcement so we can aggressively prosecute violent drug dealers like Turk in order to keep the community safe."
ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka commented on the case: "This case is a reminder of the critical work we do to combat violent crime and drug trafficking. The ATF’s partnership with local police and federal prosecutors is vital in our mission to keep our neighborhoods safe. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that offenders like Turk face justice for their actions."
According to information presented in court, on April 4, 2020, Cobb County Police attempted to stop a vehicle linked days earlier to an alleged drive-by shooting in Marietta. The driver, identified as Turk, fled at high speed before leaving his moving vehicle while five passengers remained inside. While fleeing from police, he dropped a loaded .40 caliber pistol that was recovered by officers. About an hour later, law enforcement located him hiding in another abandoned vehicle.
Officers found 24 pills containing methamphetamine in Turk’s pants pocket along with an iPhone containing evidence of drug dealing activity. In the vehicle driven by Turk, police discovered additional ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit Percocet and Xanax pills containing methamphetamine, individually packaged bags of marijuana, and pill fragments matching those found on his person.
Before this arrest, Turk had been convicted of several felonies including violations related to gang activity and previous offenses involving cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana distribution, illegal firearm possession by a felon, and theft by receiving stolen property.
Turk is scheduled for sentencing before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. on February 24, 2026. Sentencing will be guided by the United States Sentencing Guidelines which are advisory but suggest appropriate ranges for most offenders.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside the Cobb County Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Hwang, Michael Herskowitz, Laurel Milam and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters are prosecuting the case.
The prosecution forms part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative aiming to use all available resources from the Department of Justice against illegal immigration activities and organized criminal groups while seeking protection for communities affected by violent crime.