Pubdate: Fri, 08 Sep 2000
Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL)
Copyright: 2000 The Sun-Times Co.
Contact:  401 N. Wabash, Chicago IL 60611
Feedback: http://www.suntimes.com/geninfo/feedback.html
Website: http://www.suntimes.com/
Author: Steve Warmbir, Federal Courts Reporter

FORMER GOVERNMENT SNITCH RECEIVES 45-YEAR SENTENCE

Drug-dealing gang member Kevin Snulligan probably won't be noted as the 
smartest government snitch ever.

After his arrest last year on serious drug charges, Snulligan, 28, of 
Chicago, agreed to tape phone conversations with his Mexican drug suppliers 
for the government.

The only problem: The suppliers started chatting about the hit man 
Snulligan had ordered, authorities said.

Snulligan cut them off, but that phone faux pas, plus Snulligan's attempt 
at intimidating a witness and his lengthy criminal record, led to a 45-year 
prison sentence for his drug crimes on Thursday.

The case, prosecuted by Matthew Crowl and Brian Ellis, started July 26, 
1999, when police conducted a raid of Gangster Disciples in Chicago. One 
gang member fingered Snulligan as a mid-level drug dealer.

Later that day, police searched Snulligan's home. They found crack and 
powder cocaine, 16 pounds of marijuana, a loaded .45 Colt Defender pistol, 
a bulletproof vest, electronic scales and a money counter, plus a drug 
ledger detailing to whom Snulligan had sold drugs and how much he was owed, 
authorities said.

Snulligan appears to have ordered the hit man to deal with a drug customer 
well behind in his payments, authorities said. But the plan was thwarted 
soon after Snulligan's arrest.

Snulligan stopped cooperating with federal officials and was convicted in 
federal court after a trial in May.
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