
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 27, 1991                   TAG: 9102270547
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WISE                                LENGTH: Short

JURY PROPOSES 400-YEAR TERM FOR DRUG DEALER

A Wise County jury has recommended a 400-year prison sentence and $460,000 in fines for a Kentucky man convicted in a cocaine conspiracy case.

Ralph Edward Turner, 26, Harlan, Ky., was found guilty Tuesday on 13 drug charges at the conclusion of the two-day trial, said Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Gilliam. The jury deliberated about three hours before returning the verdicts.

Turner was charged with 12 counts of distributing cocaine in Wise County between January 1988 and December 1989. He was also charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine from February 1987 through July 1989.

The jury recommended the maximum 40-year prison sentence and $100,000 fine on the conspiracy charge, and a 30-year prison sentence and $30,000 fine on each of the distribution charges. The maximum sentence and fine allowed under state law for those charges is also 40 years and $100,000.

Turner will be sentenced April 15.

Turner's arrest was the result of ongoing investigations by the Southwest Regional Drug Task Force.

by CNB