Women's Jail 'Kingpin' Busted For Bucks Meth Ring

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A female inmate who called herself a "kingpin" has pleaded guilty to running a behind-bars methamphetamine ring that prosecutors say preyed on women recovering from addiction.

Shayla Hadley, 24, of Quakertown, ran the drug ring along with two lieutenants and a host of fellow inmates that Hadley reportedly referred to as her "junkies," prosecutors say.

On Thursday, Hadley pleaded guilty to 14 felony counts related to distributing meth in Bucks County Correctional Facility. According to the Bucks County District Attorney's office, she admitted smuggling a large amount of meth into the jail on Jan. 7, 2018, and dispensing the drugs to other inmates in exchange for them putting money into her commissary account.

Prosecutors say Hadley was high when she entered the jail and hid the drugs in a pill bottle, which she hid inside her body. In just a few days, she made about $700 selling the drugs, prosecutors say.

In a section of the prison for women in addiction recovery known as "The Bubble," she admitted enlisting at least 11 other inmates in her scheme, including two "lieutenants" — Bree Allison Taylor, 42, of Bedminster, and Aleah Marie Moore, 32, of Bensalem.

While dealing the drugs, Hadley called herself a "kingpin" and "El Chapo" during jailhouse phone calls, according to prosecutors. They say she bragged that "no one can touch me" and told her co-defendants, "If one of us goes down, we all go down. If we all do this together, no one can tell on us."

"This case is all about meth, money and malice," said Assistant District Attorney Ashley C. Towhey. "Shayla Hadley did not care one bit about any of these defendants she was exploiting. All she cared about was herself, her money and her commissary."

Reading a prepared statement on Thursday, Hadley apologized in front of Judge Rea B. Boylan for her "blatant carelessness and disregard for the law." She highlighted her own addiction issues, though she added that she could not place sole blame for her actions on her drug use.

Boylan sentenced Hadley to consecutive state prison terms totaling 10-20 years and added a concurrent 1-2 years for a possession with intent to deliver charge resulting from a traffic stop in West Rockhill Township.

"You, in a predatory way, took advantage of the circumstances of the women who were with you," Boylan said.

Towhey argued that Hadley showed her true colors when a member of her drug operation had a bad reaction to meth and needed medical attention. While other inmates rushed to help the woman, Hadley instead said she should be left alone, according to prosecutors.

It was that incident, in which the inmate was hospitalized, that led to the drug ring's undoing.

Taylor, considered Hadley's second-in-command, entered a guilty plea April 2 and received a sentence of 4 1/2-9 years in state prison. Moore pleaded the same day and received a sentence of 2-5 years in state prison.

Other defendants who entered open guilty pleas to lesser charges were sentenced as follows:

• Alexis Hall, 25; three to 23 months in county prison
• Kristen Horn, 31; 36 months of probation, 50 hours of community service
• Megan Hartwell, 34; 24 months of probation
• Dominique Menichella, 25; 12 months of probation
• Nicole Auslander, 37; 36 months of probation
• Barbara Bailey-Dawson, 47; 12 months of probation
• Rachel Engelmann, 25; 36 months of probation

Cases for two additional defendants – Nicole Tregea, 40, and Alicyn Faller, 24 – remain open. Tregea has pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced next week.