U.S. Attorney Richard D. Westphal | U.S. Department of Justice
A federal grand jury in Des Moines has indicted five individuals from the city on charges related to fentanyl trafficking. The indictment includes three counts against Devonte Darnell Hassell, Ryan Redmond, Kevin Stanley Harris, Jr., Adonis Angel Devora, and Ricky Jamall Ellis.
Devonte Darnell Hassell, also known as “Domo”, “Dom”, and “Rose”, aged 28, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of fentanyl. He could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison. Ryan Redmond, 31, also known as “Chiefy”, faces similar charges with a potential sentence ranging from a minimum of 5 years to a maximum of 40 years.
Kevin Stanley Harris, Jr., aged 42 and referred to as “Rylo” and “Big Hands,” is accused of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of fentanyl. Due to an alleged prior serious drug felony conviction, he could be sentenced from a minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment. Adonis Angel Devora, aged 43, is charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl with a possible maximum sentence of 20 years. Ricky Jamall Ellis, aged 30, faces the same charge with a potential maximum sentence of 30 years.
All five were apprehended on December 18th; four in Des Moines and one in Houston. On that day, authorities executed thirteen federal search warrants leading to the seizure of approximately 610 grams of heroin/fentanyl mixture along with methamphetamine, marijuana, firearms totaling nineteen in number, and over $13,000 in cash.
The investigation into this case was extensive over several months focusing on fentanyl distribution within Des Moines. United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal for the Southern District of Iowa announced these developments.
The case involves multiple agencies including the Des Moines Police Department; United States Postal Inspection Service; FBI's Central Iowa Gang Task Force; Iowa Department divisions such as Narcotics Enforcement and Intelligence Fusion Center; State Patrol units like SWAT; United States Marshals Service among others from Ames Police Department down through Metro Special Tactics teams extending support from police departments outside Iowa including Chicago's force alongside Houston's.
This initiative falls under Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) aiming at high-level traffickers using coordinated efforts across various law enforcement levels employing intelligence-led strategies against criminal networks threatening U.S security interests.
It should be noted that indictments are allegations only where defendants maintain innocence until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt within judicial proceedings.
"An indictment is merely an allegation," it emphasizes "and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court."
