Girlfriend of drug kingpin gets 12 years

Chanell Cunningham, an admitted drug dealer whose testimony helped convict her kingpin boyfriend of murder and cocaine trafficking charges, was sentenced to 12 years in prison Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Joyner.

Joyner described Cunningham as the "vice president of personnel" for a multimillion dollar cocaine distribution network.

"You lived constantly, day-to-day, as a major officer in this conspiracy," the judge said.

Cunningham, 37, was a key prosecution witness in the case against Maurice Phillips who was found guilty earlier this year of two murders and various drug, conspiracy and money-laundering charges.

She agreed to cooperate after they and seven associates were indicted in 2007. She faced a sentencing guideline range of 30 years to life after pleading guilty to drug, conspiracy and money-laundering charges.

Phillips was sentenced to five life terms by Joyner last week.

Cunningham testified that she was Phillips girlfriend during most of his eight-year run as a cocaine kingpin. She admitted to making major drug pickups, to setting up deals with local drug traffickers and to helping Phillips count and launder millions of dollars.

Authorities have said a conservative estimate placed a value of $30 million on Phillips operation which stretched from Mexico to New York. Testimony during a three-month trial indicate the business generate much more.

In addition to drug dealing, Phillips was convicted of three murder counts tied to the gangland-style slaying of Chineta Glanville, 50, of Wyndmoor.

Glanville, a convicted forger and money-launderer who worked for several drug dealers, was introduced to Phillips by Cunningham. Glanville was a longtime family friend whom Cunningham described as an "aunt."

Glanville was killed in June 2002, a month after the FBI raided her home and confiscated records.

Cunningham said Phillips feared Glanville was cooperating. But she said it was nearly four years after the murder that Phillips admitted to her that he had had Glanville killed.

Glanville's 29-year-old godson, who happened to be visiting her, was also killed by a hit man hired by Phillips. Like Cunningham, the hit man agreed to cooperate and testify for the government.