Trio charged with obtaining drugs used to make ‘purple drank’

Leonardtown, MD – St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office detectives received information from a local pharmacy of a possible fraudulent prescription being passed for “Promethazine-Codeine.” This powerful cough syrup is used to create a drug drink known on the street as “Purple Drank.”

As the investigation continued, all area pharmacies were notified of the particulars related to the case. By sharing this information with our community partners, we learned of another fraudulent prescription was passed at a separate pharmacy in Lexington Park. Detectives responded and conducted surveillance while awaiting the arrival of the suspect.

The suspect, identified as the same suspect from the first fraudulent prescription, entered the store and took possession of the prescription. He exited and immediately entered a waiting vehicle. An assisting patrol deputy and a uniformed Narcotics Support Team member attempted to stop the vehicle.

The suspects fled from the vehicle, two were caught quickly and the third was apprehended while hiding in a nearby hair salon. Once all three suspects were detained, detectives discovered bottles of “promethazine-codeine”, “oxycodone”, approximately $1,000 in cocaine, a ledger, marijuana, 5 cell phones and more than $400.00 in cash.

One of the suspects provided the name “Londell Andre Malone”, however he has been positively identified as Alexis Ercillo Santos, 24 of Oxon Hill. He was the original suspect in both fraudulent prescriptions and charged with attempting  obtain prescription by fraud, possession of Oxycodone and possession of Promethazine-Codeine,” and was issued a civil citation for possession of marijuana.

Kevin Lewis, 21 of Washington, D.C. was charged with possession of Oxycodone, possession of cocaine, possession of Promethazine-Codeine and was issued a civil citation for possession of marijuana.

Emmanuel David Johnson, 30 of Washington, D.C. was charged with  possession of Oxycodone, possession of Promethazine-Codeine” and was issued a civil citation for possession of marijuana as well as numerous traffic citations.

Additional charges on all the listed suspects are pending a review with State’s Attorney Richard D. Fritz.