Charitable Donation Arrives with a 'Cowboy' Surprise Inside

Charity is a virtue. But someone sending a donation to a foundation in New Jersey went a little overboard.

At noon Tuesday, a manager of 360 Direct, 12040 W. Feerick St., called Wauwatosa police to report that a suspicious white powder had been found in an envelope that had arrived at the business. 360 Direct is a national clearinghouse that processes and distributes donations for non-profit and charitable organizations.

That morning, an employee had opened an envelope from a woman in Little Ferry, NJ, intended for the New Jersey Foundation. Inside was a money order for $10, apparently a donation.

But the employee noticed something else inside – and she dumped out 14 white "bindles" – small squares of paper folded into tiny envelopes – some stamped “Cowboy” and one labeled “China White” in red ink. She opened one and found a white powder inside.

Wauwatosa police tested the powder in two of the paper bindles and found it to be heroin. "Cowboy" and "China White" are known drug-culture nicknames for heroin of various grades and types.

The investigating officer called the Little Ferry Police Department and spoke with a detective who told him the address was listed to a man of the same last name as that of the woman’s return address. He also said the address had been the subject of a number of medically related calls.

The detective said that also on the record was one call from the man to police asking whether they were looking for him.

Wauwatosa police forwarded the check and samples of the other "donation" to the Little Ferry police.