Memphis felon gets 12.5-year federal prison sentence after high-speed chase and illegal handgun possession

Federal case stems from stolen-car investigation and pursuit through a residential area

A Memphis man has been sentenced in federal court to 150 months in prison after authorities said a traffic stop attempt turned into a high-speed chase and ended with the recovery of a handgun. The case concluded with a conviction for illegal firearm possession by a person previously convicted of a felony.

The defendant, Carl Turner, 26, was sentenced on March 14, 2024, to 150 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Federal records indicate the conviction was for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. In the federal system, parole is not available.

What investigators said happened during the pursuit

Authorities said the events that led to the federal prosecution began on September 16, 2022. Officers reported spotting Turner driving a white 2020 Kia Optima that matched the description of a vehicle reported stolen the night before. When officers initiated a traffic stop using emergency lights and sirens, authorities said Turner reversed the vehicle toward police squad cars, striking one and disabling it.

Officers said Turner then drove away, leading police on a high-speed chase for about two miles through a residential neighborhood. The pursuit ended after the Kia crashed into a utility pole, investigators said.

Gun recovered after crash, officials said

After the crash, authorities said Turner fled on foot and threw a brown backpack while running. Officers detained him and recovered the backpack, which authorities said contained a Bersa .380 caliber automatic pistol.

Federal prosecutors pursued the case as a felon-in-possession charge, a common federal firearm offense that can carry significant prison time depending on a defendant’s criminal history and other sentencing factors.

Plea and sentencing timeline

• Sept. 16, 2022: Officers reported the vehicle stop attempt, crash, and recovery of a handgun in a discarded backpack.

• Nov. 20, 2023: Turner entered a guilty plea to the federal firearm charge.

• March 14, 2024: A U.S. district judge imposed a 150-month prison sentence and three years of supervised release.

The investigation involved a task force focused on gun cases for federal prosecution, working with local and federal law enforcement partners.

Officials said the case was handled within a broader federal violent-crime reduction initiative that coordinates enforcement and community-based prevention efforts, with a stated emphasis on reducing gun violence.