PHILADELPHIA – Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced the arrests of three drug dealers for attempting to sell drugs to students in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. Agents from the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations seized one AR-15 and 76 grams of drugs during the arrest.
“The children of Kensington, especially our youngest, should be able to walk to school or play with friends in safety and not be confronted by drug dealers trying to sell them the very poisons that are fueling the opioid, heroin and fentanyl crises,” said Attorney General Josh Shapiro. “A mother selling drugs to students while her young children watch is stunning. I’m proud of the swift work of our Bureau of Narcotics Investigations to put an end to this criminal behavior, take dangerous drugs and an illegal gun off the streets, and keep the people of Kensington safe.”
The defendants – who were taken into custody with the assistance of Philadelphia Police Narcotics and Philadelphia Police Department SWAT – all face felony charges of possession with the intent to deliver narcotics, conspiracy, and knowing and intentional possession of narcotics. They are identified as:
- Jesse Holder,
- Deshaun Williams, and
- Leea Morton, a/k/a Leea Brown.
Leea Morton is also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of children. Holder is also charged with “felon not to possess a gun.”
During the bust, Attorney General Shapiro said the BNI agent confiscated an AR-15 rifle, 3 grams of heroin, 14 grams of methamphetamine, and 59 grams of marijuana. The drugs had a street value of $7,500. Also recovered was an extended magazine (33 rounds) loaded with 21 armor-piercing 9mm cartridges. Neither the drugs nor the rifle were secure. Two children younger than 5 years old were present at the time of arrest.
All charges discussed are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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