CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – A Champaign woman was sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine followed by eight years of supervised release.
The 36-year-old woman, Malaia A. Turner, was sentenced on Monday, September 23 to 27 years for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of substances containing methamphetamine. Organizations such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Illinois State Police East Central Illinois Task Force, and the United States Postal Inspection Service were involved in the investigation to bring Turner to justice.
The government provided evidence at the hearing of Turner obtaining large amounts of crystal methamphetamine from suppliers in California, Texas, and Illinois and distributing them across Central Illinois. Her conviction came after a four-day trial in May 2024 following her arrest in August 2022. With the evidence presented, U.S. District Judge Colin S. Bruce came to the conclusion that Turner was a major figure and leader in the operation and faced greater punishment.
During her sentencing, Turner faced statutory penalties of ten years to life in prison, a ten million dollar fine, and at least a five-year term of supervised release. This case is an official part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF takes down high-level drug traffickers and criminal organization through the use of local law enforcement networks.