Philadelphia man convicted of gun and drug charges after traffic stop in Abington

Jonathan Jose Santiago, 28, of Philadelphia, was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in prison after pleading guilty to carrying a firearm without a license and possession with intent to deliver marijuana following a March traffic stop in Abington Township Pottstown Mercury reported.

The investigation began March 9 when Abington police conducted a traffic stop on Santiago's vehicle and noticed a strong odor of marijuana and rolling papers in the front console.

“During my encounter with Santiago, he appeared nervous and avoided eye contact with me,” Abington Police Officer Michael F. Sweeney alleged in the affidavit, adding that Santiago admitted to smoking marijuana and gave police a medical card Marijuana submitted, which expired in 2022.

Following a search warrant, police found nine individually wrapped bags of suspected marijuana, three suspected Ecstasy pills, two digital scales, vacuum sealers and drug packaging materials.

“Based on my training and experience, the manner in which cannabis was used and the quantity of it was consistent with street-level drug dealing. “In addition, the large amount of miscellaneous packaging and drug paraphernalia was also consistent with street-level drug sales,” Sweeney alleged.

Police also discovered a black Sig Sauer P320 9mm pistol with an extended magazine under the passenger seat. A records check revealed the handgun had previously been reported stolen in Warminster Township. Santiago did not have a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

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