Starting in November 2023, members of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police Selective Enforcement Unit (SEU) discovered that Austin Turner, who has been previously convicted of felony drug and firearms offenses, was in possession of numerous handguns and conducting target practice at a local firing range with his girlfriend, Ashley Alicea. In collaborating with Lancaster County Detective Stan Roache, Turner was able to be charged with felony firearms violations.

On December 18th, SEU members located Turner and Alicea inside a vehicle in the 500 block of Southeast Avenue Lancaster, PA. Turner, who was wearing ballistic body armor, was quickly apprehended and found to be in possession of:

     -- A loaded Glock 23 semi-automatic handgun with an altered serial number and extended magazine

     -- 84 pressed fentanyl pills

     -- Approximately 11 grams of crack cocaine

     -- Digital scale and drug packaging material

     -- $181.00

During their investigation on Southeast Avenue, officers located a second firearm, a loaded Polymer 80 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, underneath of the front driver seat of the vehicle that Alicea had been driving. Alicea, who does not have a license to carry a concealed firearm, was placed under arrest and found to have 22 pressed fentanyl pills.

The vehicle was later searched and 125 grams of marijuana, packaged for sale, was located.

Based on this information, Turner was charged with one count persons not to possess firearms (F1), one count carrying a firearm without a license (F3), one count possession of a firearm with an altered manufacturer's number (F2), two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (F), one count possessing unlawful body armor (F3), and possession of drug paraphernalia (M).

Alicea was charged with one count of carrying a firearm without a license (F3), two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (F), and one count driving without a license (S).

Both Turner and Alicea were arraigned and committed to Lancaster County Prison.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.