Norristown Mother Had Young Daughters Deal Drugs: DA

NORRISTOWN, PA — A Norristown mother and head of a drug trafficking organization is behind bars after officials said she had her young daughters sell drugs on her behalf.

The investigation into Suleyka Santiago, 34, has been ongoing for months, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office said.

Police said Santiago took over the organization from her boyfriend, Norristown's Kenneth Scott, when Scott was imprisoned on drug offenses in Oct. 2020.

Scott had sold counterfeit oxycodone, which was in fact just disguised fentanyl, officials said.

The investigation into ongoing drug activity was connected in Santiago in June, when a confidential informant entered her vehicle and met with Santiago's 12 and 14-year-old daughters. The children sold the informant the drugs, which are believed to be the same counterfeit oxycodone.

A second purchase later in June was made by the informant, who this time bought the same pills from Santiago directly, outside the same vehicle as the first deal, the DA's Office said.

Santiago was arrested, and was arraigned on July 1, officials said Tuesday.

Bail was initially set at $100,000, but later reduced to $10,000 following a review of the case by Judge Garrett D. Page. The DA's office has filed to have the original bail amount reconsidered.

Santiago was released on her own recognizance after posting bail on July 2.

A preliminary hearing is set for July 14.