TEEN ALLEGEDLY BRAGGED ABOUT STRENGTH OF DRUG

Three people, including a teenager, have been charged with causing
heroin deaths as part of an eastern Iowa investigation into heroin trafficking.

A 17-year-old boy is accused of giving high-potency heroin to two
people, one of whom died and another who came close to dying,
according to charges unsealed Friday in the U.S. District Court for
the Northern District of Iowa.

The teen, identified only as "L.M.", later bragged about the strength
of his heroin, said Assistant U.S. Attorney C.J. Williams.

"After one of his customers . . . died as a result of using heroin
provided to him by the juvenile, the juvenile attempted to use that
fact as an additional sales tool, claiming that his heroin was so
pure that it could kill a person," Williams said in court documents.

The boy was also charged with conspiring to distribute heroin between
2003 and 2006, and distributing heroin in November and December 2005.
He was released to home detention. If convicted, he faces up to 20
years in prison.

Two Cedar Rapids men were charged last week with providing heroin
that caused the deaths of two people.

[Name redacted], 33, was charged with distributing heroin in June
2001 that resulted in the death of a person identified as Z.L., and
with unlawful transport of firearms. [Name redacted], 23, was charged
with distributing heroin in June 2004 that caused the death of a
person identified as J.H.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.