Phillip Gillard, 48, of Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in a drug trafficking organization that operated in the Port Richmond area of the city. United States District Judge John M. Gallagher also ordered Gillard to serve 10 years of supervised release and pay $2,400 in fines and assessments.
A federal jury convicted Gillard in February 2024 on charges related to drug trafficking and firearms offenses. The conviction followed a two-year investigation by the FBI into a group distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, PCP, fentanyl, and other narcotics. The organization was active near Memphis Street Academy, a charter school at 2950 Memphis Street.
The FBI's investigation included surveillance and undercover operations where agents purchased drugs from members of the group. Authorities found that Gillard and his associates operated out of three properties within 1,000 feet of the school.
During the operation, law enforcement seized more than 20 pounds of pure methamphetamine, three gallons of PCP, one and a half kilograms of cocaine, 900 grams of crack cocaine, 400 grams of fentanyl, and 11 firearms.
Several co-defendants pleaded guilty to their involvement with the organization. Sentences ranged from six months to sixteen years in prison along with varying periods of supervised release.
"This case was investigated by the FBI, Philadelphia Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations, with extraordinary cooperation from the Memphis Street Academy, and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Everett Witherell and Robert Schopf," according to United States Attorney David Metcalf.
