Charles Kraus: Philly Couple Arrested on Drug Charges, Used Their Children as Transporters

Filed under: News

Five people in Philadelphia have been arrested on narcotics charges, including a couple who used their own children as mules to transport their drugs.

A red flag was raised Tuesday evening when Rodney Saunders (above, pictured top right), 39, and Christopher Lewis (above, pictured top left), 29, were driving their rental vehicle without their headlights on.

When police spotted the men and pulled them over for a routine traffic stop, the officers smelled marijuana wafting from the car. After rummaging through the vehicle, the officers discovered 13 pounds of marijuana. The suspects were arrested.

Hours later, Saunders' wife Senya (above, pictured bottom left), 39, got wind of her husband's arrest. Thinking that police would eventually pay her a visit at home, she hurriedly stuffed the backpacks of her 10-year-old son and 9-year-old stepson with drugs in an attempt to get the remaining narcotics out of the residence.

According to Police Inspector Scott Small, the woman used the children as mere "drug mules." He described Senya's act as "pretty despicable, to say the least."

Little did Senya know that Philadelphia law enforcement had beaten her to the punch and already had the house under surveillance. Senya was also taken in to custody, along with her 19-year-old daughter Neiya Rawlerson (above, pictured top center).

Another woman, who was also implicated in the narcotics distribution ring and arrested and who happens to be a friend of Saunders, is police officer Somer Pugh (above, pictured bottom right), 33.

Police seized 20 pounds of marijuana in the case, which has a street value of about $90,000, as well as more than $10,000 in cash and a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Rodney and Senya Saunders are being held on $150,000 bail and are charged with criminal conspiracy, possession with the intent to deliver, and other related offenses. The three other accomplices were also charged.

The children were taken in to the custody by the Department of Human Services who are conducting their own investigation.

Clearly the Saunders are poor examples of parents for their children. When a parent places their child in a perilous situation, they can psycologically damage that human being for life. These types of parents usually produce toxic children, societal misfits. Let's just keep our fingers crossed that Saunders' offspring are resilient and can go on to become successful and productive citizens.