Eric Marcel Turner, Fentanyl and Firearm Possession, Minnesota 2023

A federal jury in Minneapolis has found a St. Paul man guilty of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and illegal possession of a firearm as a felon.

Eric Marcel Turner, a.k.a. Xavier Thomas, 39, was found guilty of the crimes after a three-day trial before Judge Katherine M. Menendez in U.S. District Court.

According to evidence presented at trial, on April 19, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at an apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota, that Turner rented using an alias. In the apartment, officers found over 300 grams of fentanyl and a loaded firearm.

Because Turner has multiple prior felony convictions, including a federal drug trafficking offense, for which he served several years in federal prison, he is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition at any time.

Following the trial, a jury found Turner guilty of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, the West Metro Drug Trask Force, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and Allen A. Slaughter tried the case.

The defendant, Eric Marcel Turner, is currently facing the consequences of his crimes. The exact sentence or outcome has not been announced yet, but it is expected that he will face significant time in prison due to his multiple prior felony convictions.

The investigation and trial of Turner serve as a reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and the importance of law enforcement working together to keep our communities safe.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/federal-jury-finds-st-paul-felon-guilty-fentanyl-and-firearm-possession