Episode 238: Judy Tyler – Drug Kingpin Maurice Phillips, Death Penalty Case

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In this episode, retired agent Judy Tyler reviews the long-term drug trafficking investigation under the federal drug kingpin statute of Maurice Phillips and his girlfriend and business partner Chanell Cunningham.

Phillips was charged and convicted of money laundering and murder-for-hire for ordering and orchestrating the killing of Chinetta Glanville to stop her from testifying against him. Chinetta’s godson, Dane King, an innocent bystander, was also shot and killed during the plot. Maurice narrowly escaped a death penalty conviction.

Judy explains the special procedures and requirements of a death penalty trial and reads from her notes the responses of potential jurors when asked if, during the capital punishment phase, they could vote to sentence a defendant to death.

Special Agent (Retired)

Judith Tyler

12/10/1979 – 7/31/2010

Judy Tyler served 31 years with the FBI. She spent most of her career in the Philadelphia Division working investigations targeting illegal drug gangs.

This episode is the fourth time that Judy has been interviewed on FBI Retired Case File Review. Here are the other three episodes about her FBI career and some of her other Philadelphia investigations:

Episode 147: Judy Tyler and Jack Saltarelli – Meth Lab Fugitive

Episode 102: Judy Tyler – Maurice Lewis Cocaine Crew, Architectural Theft

Episode 004: Judy Tyler – Drug Cases and Informant Development

Judy has extensive experience in the investigation of violent drug trafficking organizations and advanced investigative techniques.

She specialized in the recruitment, development, and operation of human intelligence, also known as informants, and cooperating witnesses. During her career, she received awards from the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and from the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Post-retirement, as a contract instructor, Judy continues to share her expertise in training current FBI agents as part of a specialized in-service program.

“Chanell Cunningham testified to a pillow talk conversation she had with Maurice about the murder of Chi. He said, ‘I did it for you. I couldn’t see us going to jail.’”—Retired Agent Judy Tyler

The following are news articles about the drug enterprise, and money laundering investigation against Maurice Phillips and Chanelle Cunningham:

Philadelphia Inquirer – 8/15/2010: Drug kingpin lived lavishly till the music died

Philadelphia Inquirer – 2/4/2010: Gal pal: Accused kingpin admitted killing witness: Claimed he did it to protect her and his drug empire

FBI Website- Press Release – 4/28/2010: Murder of a Federal Witness Leads to Life in Prison for Drug Dealer

Springfield Sun -Montgomery News – 5/3/2010: Drug kingpin who ordered Wyndmoor murder to get life

Philadelphia Inquirer – 8/18/2010: Drug kingpin Maurice Phillips’ girlfriend gets 12 years

Specialized expert witness calculated that Maurice Phillips drug trafficking enterprise had generated more than 30 million. See sample of evidence – Drug distribution records