Local residents indicted
in cocaine bust

Four Northeast Philadelphia residents were among 22 people indicted by a Pennsylvania grand jury last week in connection with two alleged cocaine distribution rings based in the city.
Authorities claim that Preston "PR" Suttles, 36, of the 500 block of Anchor St. in Crescentville, was ringleader of one of the overlapping organizations. Latanya "T" Dickson, 34, lived with Suttles and is also accused in the drug conspiracy.
In addition, Demetrius "Demo" Hayes, 31, of the 13000 block of Townsend Road in the Far Northeast, allegedly supplied drugs to an organization led by Shannon "Whoopie" McKeiver, 32, of the 4400 block of N. 19th St.
Meanwhile, Gregory "Face" Morton, 34, of the 600 block of Adams Ave. in Crescentville, was named as a dealer supplied by McKeiver.
According to Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, state narcotics agents and Philadelphia police uncovered the drug syndicates during their investigation of a North Philadelphia woman who allegedly sold cocaine to undercover officers in December 2006.
Investigators identified Suttles and McKeiver as two of the woman’s alleged suppliers and determined that each was capable of distributing up to four kilograms of cocaine per month, with an estimated street value of $400,000.
Using court-authorized wiretaps and other surveillance, authorities identified additional drug associates of the two ringleaders.
While McKeiver distributed crack cocaine as far away as Allentown and the Poconos, Corbett said, Suttles operated primarily in Philadelphia and surrounding areas.
Suttles is charged with seven counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, seven counts of cocaine possession, two counts of participating in a corrupt organization, criminal use of communications facility and conspiracy.
Hayes, Morton and Dickson are charged with fewer counts of the same primary offenses. ••