After a four-day jury trial, Traon Turk was found guilty in federal court of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He 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, “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.”
Court documents show that on April 4, 2020, Cobb County Police officers identified a vehicle believed to have been involved in a recent drive-by shooting in Marietta. When officers attempted to stop the car, Turk drove away at high speed before abandoning the moving vehicle with five passengers still inside. While fleeing from police, he dropped a loaded .40 caliber pistol which was recovered by law enforcement. Officers later located Turk hiding in an abandoned vehicle.
A search revealed 24 pills containing methamphetamine in Turk’s pocket and an iPhone containing evidence of drug dealing activity. Additional items seized from the vehicle included more ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit Percocet and Xanax pills, and individually packaged bags of marijuana.
Prior convictions for Turk include violations related to gang activity, multiple drug offenses, illegal firearm possession by a felon, and theft by receiving stolen property.
Turk, age 31 and from Austell, Georgia, will be sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr. on February 24, 2026. Sentencing will take into account the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Cobb County Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Hwang, Michael Herskowitz, Laurel Milam, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters are prosecuting.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a national initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration as well as eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime.
For more information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
