In Knoxville, a man previously convicted of selling cocaine has been found guilty once again of possession with intent to distribute the substance. The Knox County District Attorney General's Office reported that Keith Antwan Turner, a 33-year-old with a history of felony convictions, faces a significant prison term at his sentencing on February 28.
The conviction stems from an incident on October 9, 2023, when Knoxville Police responded to reports of drug usage in a vehicle on Ridgebrook Lane. Officers, including Officer Christopher McCurry, arrived to find Turner outside the car. The officials could smell marijuana and subsequently found fourteen grams of cocaine along with a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle, as well as $692 on Turner's person. A K9 unit at the scene alerted to the presence of narcotics.
Turner's legal troubles have compounded with a jury now imposing a hefty fine of $75,000 in addition to the guilty verdict, as detailed in a press release by the DA’s Office. His repeated offenses as a drug dealer have exacerbated his situation, where he might spend the next two to three decades behind bars.
DA Charme Allen expressed a resolute stance, stating, as per the Knox County District Attorney General's Office, “Aggressively prosecuting repeat drug dealers has contributed to the decline in overdose deaths in our community.” This trial, led by Assistant District Attorneys TaKisha Fitzgerald and Molly Martin, brought to light Turner's persistent engagement in illegal drug activities while on probation for an analogous offense. Turner is also noted for his affiliation with the Crips gang.
