Hawkeye Reporter

A Des Moines resident, identified as Kevin Stanley Harris, Jr., has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The sentencing took place on August 27, 2025.

Court documents indicate that law enforcement began investigating Harris in the spring of 2024 after learning he was operating as a high-level fentanyl dealer in Des Moines. Over seven months, authorities determined that Harris traveled between Des Moines and Chicago to acquire large amounts of fentanyl, which he then redistributed locally with the help of several co-conspirators. On December 18, 2024, Harris was arrested during a coordinated operation that included thirteen federal search warrants. Law enforcement seized approximately 610 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture, around 135 grams of methamphetamine, about 260 grams of marijuana, nineteen firearms, and more than $13,000 in cash from various residences.

Harris was sentenced under the United States Sentencing Guidelines as a career offender due to his extensive criminal history. His record includes prior convictions related to weapons possession and multiple drug offenses, including a previous federal conviction from the Northern District of Iowa.

Upon completion of his prison sentence, Harris will serve an eight-year term of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentence. The case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and United States Postal Inspection Service.

Des Moines Police Department Chief Michael McTaggart stated: “The Des Moines Police Department is grateful for the strong partnership with our federal agencies, whose collaboration has been essential in our ongoing efforts to protect our community from the devastating effects of the illegal distribution of fentanyl. Justice for 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.”

Bryan Musgrove, Inspector in Charge with the Denver Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service added: “Through our joint enforcement efforts, we’ve dismantled a criminal organization that posed a direct threat to the safety and stability of various communities. This sentencing is a result of a coordinated effort of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to keep heroin and other drugs out of our communities.”

FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowel commented: “Fentanyl is an exceptionally destructive drug that wreaks havoc on our communities. We will continue partnering aggressively with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations operating in Iowa. The sentencing of Kevin Stanley Harris, Jr., is one important step in our continuing fight to keep fentanyl out of our neighborhoods.”

Several co-defendants are scheduled for sentencing later this year and into December across different locations including Des Moines; Houston; and Chicago.

According to recent data, fentanyl remains the leading cause of drug overdose deaths nationwide. Fatalities among youth aged 15 to 24 have more than doubled between 2018 and 2022. Many counterfeit pills containing lethal doses are made to look like prescription medication but are actually laced with fentanyl; further information can be found at https://www.dea.gov/onepill .