Des Moines Man Faces Charges Related to Dispensing of Hydrocodone

DES MOINES, IA – On March 14, 2017, Shawn Michael Kerby, 38, of Des Moines, Iowa, appeared in U.S. District Court in connection with multiple charges related to the distribution and dispensing of hydrocodone and possession of firearms, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel.

Specifically, on February 23, 2017, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Kerby with the following:

• Eight counts of distributing and dispensing hydrocodone outside the usual course of professional practice and not for any legitimate medical purpose on multiple occasions between May 10, 2012, and November 18, 2015;

• One count of obtaining hydrocodone by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, and subterfuge, alleged to have occurred on November 18, 2015;

• One count of using a communication facility, specifically, a cellular telephone, in connection with the distribution and dispensing of hydrocodone outside the usual course of professional practice and not for any legitimate medical purpose on October 6, 2015; and

• One count of possession of firearms while being an unlawful user of and addicted to a controlled substance.

The indictment also seeks forfeiture of the subject firearms and a 2013 Ford F-150 Raptor Truck. The indictment was unsealed upon Kerby’s initial court appearance.

Kerby pleaded not guilty to the charges and his case was set for trial on May 1, 2017. The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation and that Kerby is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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Learn more about this release by contacting Rachel J. Scherle at 515-473-9300, or by emailing her at Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov