After a four-day trial, a federal jury in Atlanta convicted Traon Turk of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Turk had already pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
"Turk is a multi-convicted felon who peddled deadly drugs and illegally carried a loaded firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg. “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 stated, “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 attempted to stop a vehicle believed involved in an earlier drive-by shooting in Marietta. The driver, identified as Turk, fled at high speed before abandoning the moving car with five passengers inside. While fleeing on foot, Turk dropped a loaded .40 caliber pistol which was recovered by police. Officers found him about an hour later hiding in another abandoned vehicle.
During the arrest, police found 24 pills containing methamphetamine in Turk’s pocket and seized his iPhone which contained evidence of drug dealing activity. Additional items recovered from the car included ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit Percocet pills also containing methamphetamine, counterfeit Xanax pills, individually packaged bags of marijuana, and other drugs.
Prior convictions for Turk include violation of the Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act; possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana with intent to distribute; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; and theft by receiving stolen property.
Sentencing for Traon Turk is scheduled before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr., on February 24, 2026. The sentence will be determined according to United States Sentencing Guidelines.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) along with the Cobb County Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys James Hwang, Michael Herskowitz, Laurel Milam and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Annalise Peters are prosecuting.
The prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—an initiative using Department of Justice resources against illegal immigration activities and transnational criminal organizations while aiming to reduce violent crime nationwide through coordinated efforts.
