United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

ROWLETT, TEXAS, WOMAN SENTENCED TO ALMOST SIX YEARS
IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE, ON HEROIN CONVICTION

Police Found Thousands of Doses of “Cheese” Heroin in Her Home

DALLAS — Barbara Blanton Sims, 61, of Rowlett, Texas, was sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn to 71 months in federal prison following her guilty plea in September 2009 to an indictment charging possession with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Sims was also ordered to forfeit a 1992 Mercedes, a 2002 Cadillac, a 1978 Rolls Royce and a 1997 Jaguar to the government. She must surrender to the Bureau of Prisons by April 27, 2010.

Sims was arrested in February 2009 by officers of the Rowlett Police Department after they searched her home and found Mexican black tar heroin and the drug known as “cheese.” “Cheese” is heroin combined with night-time pain/cold relievers such as Tylenol PM or Advil PM; it is cheap and extremely addictive.

According to documents filed in court, Sims admitted that on February 11, 2009, she possessed with the intent to distribute 239 grams of heroin. Sims’ residence, where the drugs were found, is located within a Drug Free Zone, that is, within 1000 feet of Twin Star Park, a public park/playground in Rowlett. The plea documents also stipulate that Sims, a convicted felon, was in possession of eight firearms.

The case was investigated by the Rowlett Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon N. McCarthy and Phelesa Guy were in charge of the prosecution.

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