Men in blue now suspects

Mayor Michael Nutter said he wants the maximum sentence for three Philadelphia police officers indicted yesterday by federal prosecutors for allegedly conspiring with drug dealers to rip off a heroin dealer.

Officers Robert Snyder, Mark Williams and James Venziale are in the process of being suspended with the intent to dismiss, according to Commissioner Charles Ramsey, who said the three tainted the department.

“Those three are history, but that will be the least of their worries,” Ramsey said during a press conference.

“This is a very bad case. … Right now it’s these three. If there are more people involved we will find them and they will have a similar fate.”

Authorities said the three plotted with alleged drug dealers Zachary Young and Angel Ortiz and arranged to steal 300 grams of heroin — worth an estimated $15,000 — from Miguel Santiago. The group then tried to sell the drugs to another dealer, who was an undercover agent, authorities claim.

Snyder’s wife, Christal, is charged with helping to orchestrate the plot through phone calls and text messages. Ortiz, Young and Santiago were also charged, although Santiago is on the loose, officials said.