Philly District Attorney’s Office drops Mt. Airy meth-distribution case

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has dropped its case against three individuals who were arrested in connection to a Mt. Airy drug bust in June 2011.

On June 23, 2011, Warren Layre, James McIntyre and Cecilia Silverwood were arrested at 529-35 W. Sedgwick St. for allegedly participating in a crystal methamphetamine operation.

Police later seized more than $250,000 worth of the illegal substance from a large two-bay garage at the address, which was allegedly used as a distribution site.

Layre, McIntyre and Silverwood were charged with possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, a felony.

Following a brief pre-trial conference Monday, those charges were dismissed.

“I’m delighted with the outcome,” said defense attorney Timothy Woodward, who represented Layre during the case’s proceedings.

Assistant District Attorney Brett Furber, who prosecuted the case, would not comment on his office’s decision, known as a nolle prosequi, Latin for “we shall no longer prosecute.”

Tasha Jamerson, spokesperson with the DA’s Office, also declined to comment.

The voluntary statement, always made by a prosecutor, is typically filed when an attorney believes he or she cannot prove the charges in a given case, that the evidence in the case is flawed, or that a defendant is innocent.

Two others were arrested during the June raid and similarly charged, but were cleared from the case following a preliminary hearing in September 2011.