6-Time Convicted Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 20 Years

 MADISON, WIS. – Timothy M. O’Shea, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Danny Turner, 40, Madison, Wisconsin was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 20 years in federal prison for 5 counts of distributing crack cocaine and heroin, possessing a firearm as a felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Turner was convicted of these charges on July 15, 2020, after a three-day trial.

In January and February of 2020, Turner sold crack cocaine and heroin to an undercover police officer on five separate occasions.  At the time of his arrest, he fought with the arresting officer while possessing a loaded firearm and more crack cocaine.  Turner committed the first two drug distribution offenses while still on supervised release for his 2008 federal conviction for distribution of crack cocaine.  Because Turner has three or more felony drug trafficking convictions and possessed a firearm, he was subject to a 15-year mandatory minimum sentence under the Armed Career Criminal Act.  In addition, he faced another 5-year mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment because of his conviction for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The charges against Turner were the result of an investigation conducted by the Dane County Narcotics Task Force.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Reinhard.