Murder of a Federal Witness Leads to Life in Prison for Drug Dealer

April 29, 2010 - PHILADELPHIA—Maurice Phillips, 38, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, the leader of the Phillips Cocaine Organization (“PCO”), was sentenced today to life in prison for contracting his cousin to kill a federal witness, announced United States Attorney Michael L. Levy. Phillips was convicted earlier this month of all eight counts against him, which included the murder-for-hire of Chineta Glanville and the killing of her godson, Dane King; conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire; use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire; conspiracy to distribute cocaine; engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; conspiracy to commit money laundering; concealment of money laundering; and aiding and abetting.

Between 1998 and 2007, Phillips ran PCO, a multi-state, multi-million dollar cocaine distribution organization which distributed cocaine throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The PCO was trafficking multikilogram quantities of cocaine from Texas to the Eastern Seaboard via tractor-trailer and other vehicles. Phillips employed Chineta Glanville to help the organization launder its drug proceeds. In 2002, Maurice Phillips learned that Glanville was co-operating with a federal investigation into his organization and he hired his cousin, Bryant Phillips, charged elsewhere, to kill Glanville. Bryant Phillips went to Glanville’s Wyndmoor, PA home where he shot and killed her and her godson, Dane King. The PCO continued to distribute cocaine even after Glanville’s murder. His two co-defendants at trial, David Garcia and Sherman Kemp, were each convicted of the single count against them of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, which carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years up to life imprisonment. Prior to trial, eight other defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other offenses.

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, with assistance from the New Jersey United States Attorney’s Office, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration - Dallas and Baltimore Offices, Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Gloucester Township Police Department (NJ), Washington Township Police Department (NJ), Springfield Twp Police Department (PA), Springfield Police Department (Union County, NJ), Union County Sheriff's Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia/Camden HIDTA, Social Security Administration - OIG, U.S. Deptartment of State, Maryland State Police Department, New Castle County Police Department (DE), Roselle Police Department (NJ). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen McCartney and L.C. Wright, Jr.