Drug Trafficking Attorney in Des Moines

Ben Feld Brings a Private Investigator’s Eye to Iowa Drug Delivery Defense

Attorney Ben Feld has handled hundreds of criminal cases in Des Moines and the surrounding area, including serious drug felonies that carry decades of potential prison time. When you’re facing charges under Iowa Code 124.401, the time to act is before the prosecution finishes building its case. Early intervention gives us the opportunity to examine evidence, identify weaknesses, and begin shaping your defense from the start.

We represent clients in Polk County and the surrounding counties. Spanish-speaking support is available throughout the process, and our approach is personal: we treat clients like family because open communication is how strong defense strategies get built.

If you or someone you know is facing drug delivery, manufacturing, or trafficking-related charges in Des Moines, call us today at (515) 996-4441 to schedule a free consultation.

What Iowa Law Actually Calls “Drug Trafficking”

Iowa doesn’t use the word “trafficking” in its statutes. Iowa Code 124.401 treats delivering a controlled substance, manufacturing it, and possessing it with intent to manufacture or deliver as equally serious offenses. A single transaction, or even an attempted one, can support a delivery charge. You don’t need to have crossed state lines or moved large quantities for prosecutors to pursue a felony.

Penalty ranges depend on the drug type and quantity involved:

• Class C felony: Delivery of most Schedule I, II, or III controlled substances carries up to 10 years in prison and fines from $1,000 to $50,000
• Class B felony: Larger quantities of heroin or cocaine reach this level, carrying up to 50 years in prison and fines as high as $1 million

Sentencing Enhancements That Can Make a Serious Charge Far Worse

Iowa law builds several layers of enhancement onto base drug delivery sentences. Under Iowa Code 124.401A, any offense occurring within 1,000 feet of a school, park, swimming pool, recreation center, or on a marked school bus can add up to five years. Repeat offenders face the possibility of the court tripling the sentence otherwise authorized by law.

Fentanyl-related charges carry additional exposure. Iowa law enhances penalties for fentanyl delivery offenses and can extend liability when a delivered substance causes another person’s death, even without intent to harm. These enhancements can turn a case that looked manageable into one with catastrophic consequences if not addressed quickly.

State Court vs. Federal Court in Des Moines

Most Iowa drug delivery cases proceed through the Polk County Criminal Courts Building in Des Moines. But a traffic stop on Interstate 80 can pull a state case into federal jurisdiction. When the DEA or other federal agencies are involved, or when interstate transport is suspected, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa may take over prosecution. Federal court brings mandatory minimum sentences that escalate sharply with drug quantity and prior convictions, and there is no parole in the federal system.

An Investigative Background Built for Drug Cases

Before practicing law, Ben Feld worked as a private investigator. That background directly shapes how we approach drug delivery and trafficking cases. We don’t just review what the prosecution gives us. We examine how the evidence was assembled: whether the stop or search that led to the charges was legally valid, how informants or cooperating witnesses were used, and whether the chain of custody for any physical evidence holds up under scrutiny.

Each case gets a defense strategy built around its specific facts. No two drug cases are identical, and generic approaches don’t produce results in Polk County courtrooms.