Alim J. Turner of Knoxville was sentenced to life plus ten years in prison by the U.S. District Judge Thomas A. Varlan on Jan. 12.
The sentencing follows Turner's federal trial in July 2021 in which a jury convicted him and six other gang members of conspiring to distribute various controlled substances.
"This case is an example of the Department of Justice's comprehensive strategy to target and prosecute the most serious offenders who pose the greatest threats to safety and peace within the community," said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.
Several agencies assisted in the case, including the Knoxville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"Illegal drug trafficking continues to have a devastating and horrific impact on communities throughout our nation," ," said FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph Carrico. "This life sentence sends a very strong message to those who engage in these unlawful activities. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain dedicated to identifying, investigating, and apprehending those who terrorize our communities with their reckless and illegal behavior."
Witnesses testified at trial that Turner, 42, was the Knoxville leader of a violent street gang known as the Unknown Ghost Vice Lords.
