Cocaine Kingpin Convicted in Murder of a Federal Witness

April 14, 2010 - Maurice Phillips, 38, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, the leader of the Phillips Cocaine Organization (“PCO”), was convicted today of all eight counts against him, including the murder-for-hire of a federal witness, announced United States Attorney Michael L. Levy. A penalty hearing, to determine whether Phillips should be sentenced to death, will begin Monday, April 19, 12010.

PCO was a multi-state, multi-million-dollar cocaine distribution organization which distributed cocaine throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Phillips was convicted today of 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; tampering with a witness by murder; and aiding and abetting. 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 prior to conspiracy to distribute cocaine and other offenses.

From 1998 through 2007, the PCO was trafficking multi-kilogram 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.

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), and Roselle Police Department (NJ). It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Maureen McCartney and L.C. Wright, Jr.