DES MOINES, Iowa – Eleven defendants are facing federal criminal charges as part of a joint federal, state, and local law enforcement investigation. The charges are the result of a year-long investigation into violent acts, shootings, the possession and use of firearms, including the use of automatic switches, which qualify as machine guns under federal law, firearm straw purchasing, firearm trafficking, and distribution of fentanyl within the Des Moines area by members and associates of the criminal street gang OMB (Only My Brothers), a subset of the C-Block criminal street gang. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered shell casings at various shootings and generated investigative leads. Ninety-two guns were involved, with 73 of the involved guns seized.

United States Attorney Richard Westphal said “Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies will continue to work side by side to aggressively investigate crimes of violence and conduct that promotes and sustains this violence, including the trafficking of fentanyl, firearms trafficking, and straw purchasing. To individuals and groups that use violent crime, firearms and drug trafficking as a means to any end, please stop or face similar consequences.”

Eleven defendants are charged in five criminal indictments with federal drug and firearm related offenses:
• Armani Eugene Gates, 19, also known as “OMB74” and “74,” of Des Moines,
• Majok Majok, 18, also known as “Jok” and “Magok Magok,” of Des Moines,
• Trent Douglas Brown, Jr., 19, also known as “TB,” of Des Moines,
• Semaj Johnson, 19, also known as “Maj” and “10mill,” of Des Moines,
• Santiz Cortez Langford, Jr., 19, also known as “Tiz” and “Tizwick,” of Des Moines,
• Dawn Ellease Robinson, 44, also known as “Dawn Ellease Colbert,” of Des Moines,
• Deon Ellease Cooper, 27, of Des Moines,
• Deadrian Maurice Nelson, 18, also known as “Shiesty” and “D,” of Des Moines,
• Johnetta Marie Strode, 36, of Des Moines,
• Avontae Lamar Tucker, 20, also known as “Tae Tae,” of Des Moines, and
• Bakier Esmaeil, 18, of Des Moines.

On July 20, 2023, federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies executed nine federal search warrants that resulted in the arrest of eleven defendants, two of which were already in federal custody. The search warrants also lead to the seizure of approximately 13,000 suspected fentanyl pills, seven firearms, one machine gun conversion device, and $23,000 in cash.
According to public court documents and information discussed at court hearings, Strode is Nelson’s mother and allegedly conspired to straw purchase a firearm, later found in Nelson’s possession. Robinson is the mother of both Langford and Cooper and allegedly conspired with Langford to straw a purchase a firearm later found in possession of a victim in the January 2023 Starts Right Here double homicide in Des Moines. Cooper, who is Langford’s sister, is also alleged to have purchased firearms at Langford’s direction.

Gates, Majok, and Brown are charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. This charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, up to life in prison.
Gates, Cooper, Langford, Robinson, and Strode are charged with conspiracy to straw purchase firearms. Cooper and Robinson were charged with individually straw purchasing firearms. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, with Gates facing a maximum of 25 years in prison. Cooper, Robinson, and Strode are charged with false statement during the purchase of a firearm. These charges carry a maximum sentence of five to 10 years in prison. Gates, Majok, Johnson, and Langford are charged with firearm trafficking conspiracies. Langford was charged with firearms trafficking. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Johnson and Tucker are charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Gates, Brown, and Majok were charged with distribution of fentanyl. These charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Langford is charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. This charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Tucker is charged with possession with intent to distribution five grams or more of methamphetamine. This charge carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Tucker is also charged with possessing and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, which carries a mandatory seven-year consecutive sentence, up to life in prison.

Further, Tucker is charged with interference with commerce through robbery. This charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.Johnson and Tucker are charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. This charge carries a mandatory five-year consecutive sentence, up to life in prison. Majok and Langford are charged with illegal possession of a machinegun. Majok and Langford were also charged with possession of a machinegun in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. These charges carry a mandatory 30-year consecutive sentence, up to life in prison. Gates, Esmaeil, Johnson, Majok, Robinson, Langford, Strode, and Tucker are charged with being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. Nelson was charged with being a felon and an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm. These charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 to 15 years in prison.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Multiple agencies are investigating the case, with assistance from numerous other law enforcement agencies.  This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.