Richard Clifton Turner, a 62-year-old resident of Placerville, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd for Turner’s involvement in a conspiracy to distribute and possess methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that federal agents executed a search warrant at Turner’s residence in Placerville, where they discovered over 40 pounds of methamphetamine and six firearms, one of which had been reported stolen. Turner is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his five prior felony convictions, including vehicle theft and drug trafficking offenses.
The investigation was conducted by several agencies: the Drug Enforcement Administration, the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrian T. Kinsella prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a strategy to enhance PSN’s efforts by focusing on building trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence before it starts, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
