After a four-day jury trial, Traon Turk was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He had previously pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in the same case.
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 on the case: “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 revealed that on April 4, 2020, Cobb County Police attempted to stop a vehicle allegedly involved in a recent drive-by shooting in Marietta. The driver, identified as Turk, fled at high speed before abandoning the moving vehicle and his five passengers. While fleeing on foot, he dropped a loaded .40 caliber pistol which was recovered by officers. Approximately an hour later, authorities located Turk hiding inside another abandoned vehicle.
Police discovered 24 pills containing methamphetamine in Turk’s pocket and seized an iPhone with evidence of drug dealing activity. Additional searches led officers to find more ecstasy pills containing methamphetamine, counterfeit Percocet pills with methamphetamine, counterfeit Xanax pills, individually packaged marijuana bags, and matching pill fragments from both his pocket and the vehicle.
Turk has prior felony convictions including 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 for February 24, 2026 before Senior U.S. District Judge Thomas W. Thrash Jr., who will consider non-binding United States Sentencing Guidelines when determining the sentence.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with 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.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—an initiative led by the Department of Justice aimed at countering illegal immigration activities as well as eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
For more information about this case or other cases prosecuted by this office visit http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.
