A Des Moines resident has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl, which resulted in the death of a one-year-old child. Kenneth Leroy Quinn, also known as "Coach K," was involved in distributing pills containing fentanyl on April 29, 2023. These pills were taken home by a customer who had purchased them from Quinn. Tragically, the customer's young son ingested the fentanyl mixture and succumbed to acute fentanyl toxicity.
Court documents reveal that law enforcement conducted an investigation into Quinn's activities, purchasing marijuana from him on six occasions. In November 2023, authorities executed a search warrant at his residence in Des Moines, discovering four firearms, over five pounds of marijuana, nearly an ounce of methamphetamine, and three-quarters of an ounce of cocaine.
Following his prison sentence, Quinn will be subject to a five-year term of supervised release. It is important to note that there is no parole option within the federal system. Additionally, Quinn has been ordered to pay $1,847 in restitution.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa. The case was investigated by the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and the West Des Moines Police Department.
Fentanyl has become a leading cause of drug overdose deaths across the United States. Between 2018 and 2022, fatalities involving fentanyl among individuals aged 15 to 24 more than doubled. Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl often resemble legitimate pharmaceutical medications but can contain deadly doses. For more information on the dangers associated with fentanyl and initiatives like the One Pill Can Kill program, visit the Drug Enforcement Administration’s website.