Iowa man sentenced for fentanyl distribution

DES MOINES, Iowa - A Des Moines man has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison after being found guilty for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl.

After a seven-month investigation, law enforcement arrested Kevin Stanley Harris, Jr., in December 2024 for distributing fentanyl on a "daily or near daily basis," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa said.

Law enforcement confirmed Harris traveled to Chicago to get fentanyl to distribute in Des Moines.

The attorney's office said Harris was reportedly a member of the Black P Stones criminal street gang. He also had a prior federal conviction out of the Northern District of Iowa as well as convictions including possession of weapons and other drug-related convictions.

The same day Harris was arrested, officials executed 13 other federal search warrants and seized approximately 610 grams of a heroin/fentanyl mixture, along with approximately 260 grams of marijuana, approximately 135 grams of methamphetamine, 19 firearms and over $13,000.

Harris will be required to serve eight years of supervised release after 262 months in federal prison without an opportunity for parole.

Harris' five other co-defendants are scheduled to be sentenced later this year.

The Des Moines Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated this case.

"The Des Moines Police Department is grateful for the strong partnership with our federal agencies," Chief Michael McTaggart of DMPD said in a press release. "Justice for the families impacted, and the prevention of tragedies yet to happen, comes from the joint efforts of the men and women who work together to intervene in the trafficking of this deadly drug."