High school linked to Colorado Springs heroin bust
The Drug Enforcement Administration is continuing to investigate a possible link between a heroin ring and an area high school.
A year-long investigation lead to the arrests of 19 people suspected of being dealers and buyers earlier this month. Eight of those arrested were under the age of 21, including one unidentified juvenile who authorities said was in high school.
“When we found out the magnitude of young people that were involved in this, we decided it was time to act and it was time to stop the destruction of their lives,” said Matthew Barden, special agent in charge at the Colorado Springs DEA office.
Barden said investigators have received information that other students at the school the juvenile attended may also have been buying heroin from the drug ring. He declined to say which high school was being looked at because the investigation is on-going.
“For parents, I think they should all look at their kids and realize there’s a lot of drugs at their schools,” said Barden. “We need to be getting a little more in tune with what are kids are doing.”
He said parents should be on the look out for pieces of balloons or foil that drugs like heroin and cocaine are usually sold in.
Authorities seized two pounds of black tar heroin, three ounces of cocaine, three handguns, two vehicles and $14,500 in cash in the course of the arrests.
Barden said there would have been many more arrests in this case if members of a rival heroin ring hadn’t tried to rob an undercover agent.
One of the alleged dealers arrested lived at the Green Tree Apartments on North Carefree Circle near Academy Boulevard.
“I’m completely surprised,” said a resident who didn’t want to be named for fear of retaliation. “I never even imagined anything like that going on here because it’s families that live here.”
She and other parents said heroin being dealt to young people was a huge concern.
“It’s heart wrenching to think how many children may have been affected by it,” said the resident.
Those arrested were: Taylor Paul Fuller, 18; Krista Rose Eileen Gustafson, 18; Michael Reed Kemp, 19; Donovan Sisneros Jr., 19; Gabriel Adam McKinsey, 19; Brian Brett Cogan, 20; Crystal Nicole Sparks, 20; Rachel Leah Dickman, 21; Melodie Rose Bishel, 22; Terry James Smith, 23; Gabriel Medina Jr., 23; Clayton Roy Martin, 24; Josue Leyva-Rojo, 28; Seth Michael Berger, 30; Jorge Alberto Rodriguez-Lopez, 33; Jose Manuel Brambila, 33; Ismael Jacobo-Esquirel, 39; and Francisco Uribe-Contreras, 46. The name of the juvenile arrested was not released.
