Des Moines Man Sentenced to over 14 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy

DES MOINES, IA – On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, a Des Moines man was sentenced to 170 months in prison for his role in a fentanyl conspiracy and his possession of several firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking.

According to court documents, Jacquone Karrie Ford, also known as Antwon, 41, distributed a heroin-fentanyl mixture throughout the Des Moines area dating back to summer 2021. Law enforcement knew Ford utilized two residences, one of which operated as an in-home daycare, and a storage unit to facilitate his drug dealing. During an April 2022 search warrant at one residence, Ford was found in possession of over $75,000 and two firearms. At the other residence, officers found Ford’s co-defendant, Edgar Riley, and a firearm. In Ford’s storage unit, officers seized over six pounds of fentanyl and seven firearms, two of which were stolen.

Following his prison sentence, Ford will serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

In February 2023, Riley, 43 of Jefferson, Missouri, was sentenced to a 36-month term of imprisonment following his plea to conspiracy to distribute heroin.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The investigation was conducted by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force (MINE).