A 20-year-old Memphis man who held victims at gunpoint during a string of violent carjackings has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison.
Derrion Turner appeared in federal court on November 17, where U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced him to 246 months in prison. The sentence comes after a series of armed robberies in late 2023 that only ended when a targeted driver physically subdued Turner until police arrived.
Court records show the violence began on August 25, 2023. Turner approached a victim in the parking lot of a Circle K on Highway 64, aiming a handgun at the person’s chest. He demanded the victim’s wallet and keys before stealing a 2016 Ford Mustang.
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Less than a week later, on August 31, Turner struck again at an apartment complex near Steel Manor Drive. He grabbed a woman’s iPhone from her hand and pressed a firearm against her head, forcing her to step away from her 2018 Nissan Rogue before driving off with the vehicle.
The spree ended on September 3, 2023, at a service station on Third Street. Turner cornered a man and demanded his 2022 Dodge Charger at gunpoint. When Turner briefly looked away, the vehicle owner fought back, wrestled the weapon away, and pinned Turner until police arrived.
During the struggle, the gun discharged, but the victim successfully overpowered Turner. Turner later confessed to the crimes and pleaded guilty earlier this year.
In addition to his prison term, Judge Norris imposed three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
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U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, who announced the sentence, highlighted that law enforcement is aggressively pursuing these types of crimes.
“Our office is continuing to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to prioritize and target carjacking cases for aggressive federal prosecution,” Dunavant said. “This 20-year sentence confirms that there is a significant consequence for sowing lawlessness and violence in our communities, and Turner will now reap a long prison sentence for his brazen and dangerous behavior that victimized innocent citizens.”
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