Three dealers were hauled off in cuffs after attempting to sell heroin, meth, and marijuana to students in Kensington—a neighborhood already gutted by addiction and violence. The arrests, led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, mark a rare crackdown on open-air drug peddling near schools, where children as young as five regularly pass through toxic corners ruled by dealers.
The suspects—Jesse Holder, Deshaun Williams, and Leea Morton, a/k/a Leea Brown—were apprehended during a targeted sting operation conducted by the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigations, with tactical support from Philadelphia Police Narcotics and SWAT. Agents seized an AR-15 rifle loaded with armor-piercing rounds, 3 grams of heroin, 14 grams of methamphetamine, and 59 grams of marijuana—drugs with a combined street value of $7,500. The weapons and narcotics were found unsecured inside a residence where two children under 5 were present.
Attorney General Shapiro did not mince words: “A mother selling drugs to students while her young children watch is stunning.” Morton now faces two counts of endangering the welfare of children, in addition to felony charges of possession with intent to deliver narcotics, conspiracy, and knowing and intentional possession of narcotics. Holder, already a convicted felon, is charged with “felon not to possess a gun” in addition to drug-related counts.
The AR-15, equipped with a 33-round extended magazine containing 21 armor-piercing 9mm cartridges, was not locked away or stored safely—raising alarm over the casual normalization of lethal weapons in homes with minors. Investigators say the operation targeted individuals actively soliciting sales near school zones, exploiting vulnerable youth in one of Philly’s hardest-hit opioid corridors.
“The children of Kensington, especially our youngest, should be able to walk to school or play with friends in safety,” Shapiro emphasized, condemning the brazenness of the defendants. The Kensington district has long been a ground zero for the opioid epidemic, but few cases have so starkly illustrated the intersection of drug trade, firearms, and child endangerment.
All defendants remain in custody awaiting arraignment. As of now, the charges are allegations—presumed innocent until proven guilty. But for residents tired of open-air markets and armed dealers near playgrounds, the arrests offer a sliver of hope. The Bureau of Narcotics Investigations vows more operations to come.
RELATED: Mafia Boss ‘The Snake’ Busted for $50M Drug Ring
RELATED: Westbrook Coke Dealer Gets 27 Months
Related Federal Cases
- 23andMe Faces Lawsuit for Selling Genetic Data · Washington
- Davis Gets 6 Years for Targeting Drug Dealers · West Virginia
- Tarver Network Indicted: Drugs Flood Youngstown, Akron, Columbus · South Carolina
- Fox Chapel Woman Peddled Illicit Cancer Drugs · Pennsylvania
- Arts & Crafts Fraud: Medicare Hit for $200K · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: Pennsylvania AG
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News