A Des Moines man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for discharging a firearm during a drug deal that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy.
Brett Michael Dobberke, 22, of Des Moines, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it.
According to court documents and the facts detailed at the sentencing hearing, on November 7, 2021, Dobberke set up a drug deal via Snapchat with an individual unknown to him. Dobberke arrived at the drug deal with a loaded gun. The customer who arrived to buy drugs from Dobberke was a 15-year-old boy.
During the drug deal, Dobberke and the 15-year-old boy exchanged gunfire, and Dobberke shot and killed the minor victim. Following the shooting, Dobberke did not call for help or render aid to the victim and instead left the scene.
After Dobberke killed the minor victim, he did two more drug deals that same night. He also hid the shell casing from the discharged round that killed the victim. When police officers located Dobberke, he had another loaded gun in his vehicle. The gun Dobberke used to shoot and kill the victim was located at his residence.
The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mikaela J. Shotwell and Kristin M. Herrera prosecuted the case, with assistance from Victim Witness Specialists Charlotte Kovacs and Katie Blanchard.
Brett Michael Dobberke, the defendant, is currently serving his 16-year prison sentence.
Defendant: Brett Michael Dobberke
Criminal Charges: Discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute it
City and State: Des Moines, Iowa
Exact Date: November 7, 2021
Sentence or Outcome: 16 years in prison
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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