Des Moines Kingpin Gets 21+ Years for Fentanyl Flood

DES MOINES, Iowa – Kevin Stanley Harris, Jr., 44, of Des Moines, a reported member of the Black Stones gang, is facing over two decades behind bars after being sentenced to 262 months in federal prison on August 27, 2025, for running a fentanyl distribution network. The sentence sends a clear, if belated, message: move poison into Iowa, and you *will* pay the price.

The seven-month investigation, spearheaded by the Des Moines Police Department and the FBI, revealed Harris wasn’t just a street-level dealer. He was a high-level operator sourcing large quantities of fentanyl from Chicago, Illinois. Authorities confirmed a consistent flow of the deadly opioid into Des Moines, fueled by a network of co-conspirators working directly for him. Harris was arrested on December 18, 2024, alongside a coordinated sweep that executed thirteen federal search warrants.

The raids weren’t just about arresting Harris. They were about crippling the entire operation. Law enforcement seized approximately 610 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture, 135 grams of methamphetamine, 260 grams of marijuana, 19 firearms, and over $13,000 in cash. It was a significant haul, a testament to the scale of Harris’s operation and the danger he posed to the community. This wasn’t some small-time hustle; this was a business built on addiction and death.

Prosecutors successfully argued for a harsh sentence, citing Harris’s extensive criminal history and classifying him as a career offender. He’s already served time for previous drug and weapons convictions, including a prior federal conviction out of the Northern District of Iowa. The judge wasn’t buying any sob stories. This wasn’t a first offense, it was a continuation of a pattern of criminal behavior. After his release, Harris will be subjected to an eight-year term of supervised release – a formality in a system with no parole.

The bust wasn’t a solo act. Multiple co-defendants are awaiting sentencing: Adonis Devora, 44, of Des Moines (September 22, 2025); Devonte Hassell, 29, of Houston, Texas (September 30, 2025); Ricky Ellis, 30, of Des Moines (October 1, 2025); Ryan Redmond, 31, of Chicago, Illinois (October 20, 2025); and Terrell Harris, 41, of Chicago, Illinois (December 2, 2025). Expect more convictions to follow.

“The Des Moines Police Department is grateful for the strong partnership with our federal agencies,” said Des Moines Police Chief Michael McTaggart. “Justice for families impacted, and the prevention of tragedies yet to happen, comes from the joint efforts…to intervene in the trafficking of this deadly drug.” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel added, “Fentanyl is an exceptionally destructive drug…We will continue partnering aggressively…to keep fentanyl out of our neighborhoods.” Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, emphasized the dismantling of a “criminal organization that posed a direct threat.” The message is clear: fentanyl is a priority, and law enforcement is coming for those who profit from its spread. Remember, one pill *can* kill. Learn more at the DEA’s website.

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