A federal jury has found 33-year-old Turante Nunn guilty of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, a decision that may lock him away for up to life in prison. According to an announcement by Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee, Nunn's verdict comes as a result of a two-day trial scrutinizing his interaction with a stolen vehicle and a firearm he was not lawfully allowed to carry.
As noted in the court documents, the Memphis police spotted a stolen 2009 Pontiac G6 outside a BP gas station last January, leading them to uncover surveillance footage which showed Nunn entering the station and then quickly attempting to conceal a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol on a store shelf. This piece of evidence was crucial in helping to rapidly determine Nunn's guilt. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office, the jury also found that Nunn qualified as an Armed Career Criminal given his history of three separate felonies, thereby facing a mandatory minimum of 15 years up to a possible life sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
The conviction is a significant win for Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN), a collaborative program between law enforcement agencies and communities aimed at reducing violent crimes and gun violence. Following the principles laid down by the Justice Department, PSN’s strategy has been to foster trust in communities, support organizations preventing violence, prioritize enforcement strategically, and robustly measure the outcomes of their initiatives.
Assistant United States Attorney Jermal Blanchard was the representative for the prosecution, having to artfully navigate the legal nuances of Nunn's prior criminal record and the circumstances of his latest offense. The case drew on resources from the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, and PSN task force, highlighting the importance of cross-departmental cooperation in effectively tackling recurrent criminal behavior in our cities. "This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN)," as iterated by the U.S. Attorney’s office announcement, a grassroots effort that has been instrumental in attempting to make neighborhoods safer for all their residents.
Given the lack of possibility for parole in the federal prison system, Nunn's sentencing delineates not just a personal future behind bars, but it also serves as a deterrent to would-be offenders contemplating similar paths. The final sentencing, still ahead, will determine the exact number of years Nunn is to spend in federal prison.
