Veniamin Konstantinovich Balika, Texas man living in Illinois arrested in New Jersey with $200K of cheese from Wisconsin
An Illinois man has been arrested and accused of stealing 21 tons of Wisconsin cheese has been arrested in New Jersey, which is valued at $200,000.
photo/Jon Sullivan
New Jersey authorities say Veniamin Konstantinovich Balika, 34, from a suburban town in Texas was arrested Tuesday afternoon.
New Jersey State Police Lt. Stephen Jones said Wednesday the man was driving a refrigerated truck carrying 42,000 pounds of Muenster cheese. Jones says the cheese company, K&K Cheese in Cashton, Wisconsin, valued the cargo at $200,000.
New Jersey Detective Oliver Sissman tells WISC-TV in Wisconsin that the suspect used false paperwork to obtain the cheese.
Jones says if the cheese passes inspections by health authorities it will be donated to charity.
