Three-Time Felon Sentenced to 120 Months in Prison for Distribution of Ice Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm

PEORIA, Ill. - A Peoria, Illinois, man, Melvin D. Turner, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James E. Shadid on September 5, 2024, to an aggregate 120 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release, following his convictions for distribution of ice methamphetamine (two counts) and possessing a firearm as a felon.

According to court documents, Turner was responsible for distributing 136.82 grams of ice methamphetamine.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Turner in February 2024, and a federal arrest warrant was issued. During the subsequent arrest, officers located a Glock model 26, 9mm handgun and a 30-round magazine for the handgun in Turner's possession. The grand jury returned a superseding indictment in March 2024 adding the firearm count. At the time of his arrest, Turner had three prior felony convictions. Turner pleaded guilty to all three counts of the superseding indictment in May 2024.

The statutory penalties for the two counts of distribution of 50 grams (actual) of ice methamphetamine are ten years to life imprisonment, to be followed by at least five years of supervised release. The penalties for possessing a firearm as a felon are not more than 15 years imprisonment and not more than three years of supervised release.

The United States Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Pekin and Peoria Police Departments investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz represented the government in the prosecution.

The case against Turner 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.