Richard Clifton Turner, a 62-year-old resident of Placerville, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that federal agents executed a search warrant at Turner’s home 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 five prior felony convictions, including vehicle theft and drug trafficking offenses.
The investigation was conducted by 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 with principles focused on community trust, support for violence prevention organizations, strategic enforcement priorities, and results measurement.
