Hawkeye Reporter

Two Des Moines men have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Ajang Malou Wour, 43, and Omar Mohamed Nurani, 22, were sentenced on July 11, 2025.

Court documents revealed that Wour began trafficking fentanyl pills in the summer of 2023 after completing a term of federal supervised release. By September 2024, he was also distributing fentanyl powder. Over an 18-month period, Wour obtained and distributed more than 60,000 fentanyl pills and 40 ounces of fentanyl powder.

Nurani received fentanyl pills from Wour frequently and sold them to other distributors and customers. In June 2024, Nurani sold fentanyl pills that resulted in a customer's overdose death. Despite this incident, both men continued their illegal activities.

Wour received a sentence of 144 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Nurani was sentenced to 120 months in prison with an additional four-year term of supervised release. Federal sentences do not include parole options.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa. The investigation involved the Des Moines Police Department with support from the Ankeny Police Department and the Mid-Iowa Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Fentanyl is now recognized as the leading cause of drug overdose deaths across the United States. Between 2018 and 2022, fatalities among youths aged 15 to 24 more than doubled due to this drug. Counterfeit pills containing lethal doses of fentanyl are often indistinguishable from legitimate pharmaceuticals.