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Heroin and Fentanyl Ring Smashed in Des Moines
DES MOINES, IOWA – A massive heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation has been dismantled in Des Moines, with 27 defendants facing federal charges.
The indictment, announced by Richard D. Westphal, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, targets a months-long investigation into heroin and fentanyl distribution in the Des Moines area.
The defendants, arrested on July 21, 2021, include Malek Shawn Holmes, 21, of Des Moines; Pierre Fontain Black, 30, of Des Moines; and Deshawn Levell Greer, 29, of Des Moines, who face five-year mandatory minimum prison terms as part of their charges.
Other defendants, including Carl Murphy, 52, of Chicago, Illinois, and Gregory Izell Spight, 42, of Des Moines, also face five-year mandatory minimum prison terms.
The charges carry maximum penalties of up to life imprisonment, with a ten-year mandatory minimum prison term for Malek Holmes, and five-year mandatory minimum prison terms for several other defendants.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Central Iowa Gang Task Force, and the Des Moines Police Department.
The public is reminded that charges contain only accusations and are not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) identified and disrupted the heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation, using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to dismantle the organization.
The defendants will appear in federal court on the charges, and the public is advised to remain vigilant in the face of ongoing organized crime activity.
The investigation and charges are a significant blow to the heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation, and the community can breathe a sigh of relief that these individuals are off the streets.
As the investigation continues, the Grimy Times will provide updates on the case and any further developments.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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