6 INDICTED IN 'CHEESE' INVESTIGATION

Dallas: Accused Include Alleged Heroin Supplier, 2 Ex-DISD Students

A North Dallas man thought to be a major supplier to the teens who mix
and sell "cheese" heroin has been indicted on federal drug and weapons
charges, along with five other men, including two former DISD students.

Dallas teen talks about heroin addiction and "cheese"

[redacted], is charged with conspiracy to possess heroin with
intent to distribute, as well as distribution of heroin. He is also
charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug
trafficking crime.

Also charged in the conspiracy is [redacted], who dropped
out of Thomas Jefferson High School in 2004 and is believed to be in
Mexico, officials said.

Co-defendant [redacted] according to
the indictment, withdrew from a DISD high school in 1999, though it's
unclear which one, officials said. He is in federal custody.

Also named in the indictment, handed down May 22 and unsealed Friday,
is [redacted], who was turned over to U.S. marshals Tuesday from
the Dallas County Jail, where he had been held on drug charges.

Two other co-defendants are still at large. They are [redacted], both of
whom are thought to be in Mexico, authorities said.

"Since one member of the organization [redacted] has already been
linked to juvenile cheese heroin use and two others have been
identified as being of particular interest to DISD PD, it would not be
a stretch to presume that others in the organization may be linked to
the cheese problem at trial," said Officer Jeremy Liebbe, DISD
police's lead investigator tracking cheese use and
distribution.

[redacted] had been held at the Dallas County Jail since his March
1 arrest, but he was turned over to U.S. marshals Tuesday.

Police said they found $14,000 worth of heroin in his apartment, as
well as $87,000 in cash, pistols and cocaine.

They found no cheese heroin, but investigators say [redacted] and his
network imported heroin from Mexico to sell to teens, who mix the
highly addictive drug and distribute it mostly at schools.

Since its discovery on Dallas school campuses in 2005, at least 21
youths have died after overdosing on cheese in Dallas County.

"I think that he's being used as a scapegoat for all of this," said
[redacted]s attorney, Amanda Murphy. "There's really no link to
[redacted] and the children's deaths or the drugs in the schools."

Authorities say more arrests and indictments are expected.