Carl Murphy, Heroin Conspiracy, Iowa 2023

A Chicago man has been found guilty of a large-scale heroin and fentanyl conspiracy in federal court. Carl Murphy, 53, of Markham, Illinois, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute 1,000 grams or more of heroin for his role in the conspiracy.

The investigation, which spanned 14 months and included the use of wiretaps, identified Murphy as a heroin/fentanyl supplier for numerous street-level dealers in the Des Moines Metro from 2019 through July 2021. In July 2021, over 20 members of the conspiracy were arrested and federally indicted.

Murphy is a member of the Black P Stone Nation, a criminal street gang based in Chicago, Illinois. He had a large distribution network consisting of lower-ranking gang members, which he helped run and control. The street-level dealers traveled to and from Murphy’s residence in Illinois to purchase large quantities of heroin/fentanyl for redistribution in Des Moines.

Murphy was previously convicted of distribution of a controlled substance in the Northern District of Illinois in 2011. While awaiting trial, Murphy threatened individuals he believed to be cooperating against him.

The investigation was conducted by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE) and the Central Iowa Gang Task Force (CIGTF). This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.

Murphy's sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2023. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal court system.

Richard D. Westphal, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, made the announcement. The case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to disrupt and dismantle large-scale drug trafficking organizations.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdia/pr/chicago-man-found-guilty-heroin-conspiracy-charge-federal-court