Hawkeye Reporter

A Des Moines man, Sean Michael O’Boyle, has been sentenced to 220 months in federal prison for his involvement in drug and firearm-related crimes. The sentencing took place on July 17, 2025. O'Boyle was charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Court documents reveal that in the fall of 2024, O'Boyle, aged 34, was engaged in selling and distributing significant quantities of fentanyl. On September 30, 2024, when approached by law enforcement officers, he attempted to flee the scene. During the pursuit, he collided with a police vehicle and crashed into a tree before continuing on foot. While fleeing, he discarded a stolen loaded firearm into a yard. Authorities later discovered another firearm and distribution quantities of fentanyl in his vehicle.

At the sentencing hearing, it was determined that O’Boyle was responsible for distributing 315 grams of fentanyl. His actions during the escape were deemed reckless as they posed substantial risks of injury. Following his prison term, O'Boyle will serve five years under supervised release as there is no parole option available within the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal from the Southern District of Iowa announced this sentence. The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation leading to these charges.

Fentanyl remains a major concern across the United States due to its role as the leading cause of drug overdose deaths nationwide. Between 2018 and 2022, deaths among youth aged 15 to 24 from fentanyl more than doubled. Counterfeit pills containing lethal doses of fentanyl often resemble legitimate pharmaceutical drugs. More information can be found on the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website under their "One Pill Can Kill" initiative.