DES MOINES, Iowa — 17 Des Moines residents have been sentenced to federal prison following an investigation that involved firearm trafficking, drug distribution, and more across Des Moines.

On Wednesday, the final defendant in a 17-defendant gang investigation which involved the Only My Brothers (OMB) street gang, was sentenced to federal prison. All 17 defendants had previously plead guilty or been found guilty in a jury trial.

In federal court, the 17 defendants were charged with various crimes including RICO conspiracy, fentanyl distribution, possessing machineguns, straw purchasing firearms, firearms trafficking, and illegally possessing firearms.

According to public court documents and evidence presented in court, the charged defendants were members and associates of a criminal organization or enterprise known as “Only My Brothers” or “OMB.”

OMB originated in early to mid 2021, it’s during this time that OMB’s members and associates engaged in various criminal activities in an attempt to earn and maintain respect in the neighborhood. These activities include attempted murder, at least 30 gang-related shootings, distribution of more than 22 kilograms of fentanyl, and several armed convenience store robberies in Des Moines.

To obtain firearms, OMB utilized a network of firearms straw purchasers, most of whom were drug customers or family members of OMB members.

Dawn Ellease Robinson and Deon Cooper purchased guns for OMB member Santiz Langford, who use them to conduct OMB activity or trafficked the guns to other members. One of these guns was later found in possession of a victim in the Des Moines January 2023 double homicide. Johnetta Strode also straw purchased firearms for her son, OMB member, Deadrian Nelson.

During the investigation, law enforcement identified more than 90 guns involved in OMB shootings. More than 70 of the involved guns were seized.

The defendants in this investigation include:

• Awot Baliho, 23, pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.
• Armani Gates, 21, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl, unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, two counts of conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to straw purchase firearms, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced to 276 months’ imprisonment.
• Bakier Esmaeil, 20, pled guilty to one count of being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment.
• Dontavius Sharkey, 28, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of straw purchasing conspiracy, two counts of felon in possession of a firearm, illegal possession of a machinegun, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and supervised release violations, and was sentenced to 384 months’ imprisonment.
• Deadrian Nelson, 20, pled guilty to two counts of being a felon and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 121 months’ imprisonment.
• Johnetta Strode, 37, pled guilty to straw purchasing conspiracy, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 54 months’ imprisonment.
• Christopher Eason, 43, pled guilty to false statement during purchase of a firearm, and was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment.
• Raleigh Potter, 30, pled guilty to false statement during purchase of a firearm and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 42 months’ imprisonment.
• Deon Cooper, 28, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, false statement during purchase of a firearm, straw purchasing conspiracy, and straw purchasing of a firearm, and was sentenced to 30 months’ imprisonment.
• Dawn Robinson, 45, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, straw purchasing conspiracy, straw purchasing of a firearm, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment.
• Avontae Tucker, 21, pled guilty in two federal cases to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition, two counts of interference with commerce through robbery, and two counts of brandishing and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. He was sentenced to 444 months’ imprisonment.
• Santiz Langford, 21, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, two counts of straw purchasing conspiracy, two counts of firearms trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, illegal possession of a machinegun, and two counts of unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to 295 months’ imprisonment.
• Semaj Johnson, 20, pled guilty under two separate cases to illegal possession of a machinegun, racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, firearms trafficking conspiracy, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced to 211 months’ imprisonment.
• Majok Majok, 20, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, firearms trafficking conspiracy, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and illegal possession of a machinegun, and was sentenced to 195 months’ imprisonment.
• Trent Brown Jr., 20, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and was sentenced to 90 months’ imprisonment.
• Dahaba Lula, 20, pled guilty to racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl, and was sentenced to 144 months’ imprisonment.
• Derrick Smith, 41, pled guilty to four counts of false statement during purchase of a firearm, and was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment.

The 17 defendants related to this case will serve a total of 2,538 months in federal prison.

The Des Moines Police Department began the investigation in November 2021. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case with the assistance of the Iowa Department of Public Safety-Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), Iowa State Patrol, and Iowa Division of Intelligence and Fusion Center.