Des Moines Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Meth, Fentanyl, and a Firearm

DES MOINES, Iowa - A Des Moines man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison for possessing methamphetamine, fentanyl, and a firearm.

In June 2024, a federal jury convicted Dylan Pettyjohn, 33, of possessing distribution quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and possessing a firearm as a felon and carrying it in relation to his drug trafficking.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at trial and sentencing, on May 5, 2023, Pettyjohn led Des Moines police on a vehicle chase. When his car was disabled, he continued running on foot with a loaded firearm and a fanny pack containing cash and drugs. As an officer pursued him, Pettyjohn reached into his waistband and grabbed his loaded firearm, which he threw over his head. When the officer caught up to him, Pettyjohn resisted arrest and grappled with the officer, putting his hand on the officer's gun. In his fanny pack, Pettyjohn had over 85 grams of methamphetamine and 54 fentanyl pills.

At sentencing, the Court emphasized Pettyjohn's long and aggravating criminal history. After completing his term of imprisonment, Pettyjohn will be required to serve a five-year term of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney Richard D. Westphal of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. This case was investigated by the Des Moines Police Department.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit Justice.gov/PSN.