Former NJ Prosecutor Indicted for Arranging Murder of Witness

New Jersey criminal defense attorney Paul Bergrin, a former assistant U.S. Attorney and Essex County Prosecutor, was arrested today by the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration. The arrests following the unsealing of a federal indictment that accuses Bergrin of witness tampering, racketeering, mortgage fraud, and the murder of a federal witness. Prosecutors claim that Bergrin organized an operation that regularly intimidated – and at least twice schemed to murder – witnesses scheduled to testify against Bergrin’s clients.

Bergrin, who has represented high profile clients like Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim in the past, just plead guilty two weeks ago in New York State Supreme Court for helping run a Manhattan call-girl ring. He faces up to three years’ probation on those charges – on these newest charges, he could face the death penalty. Prosecutors are asking that Bergrin be held without bail, for fear that he poses a flight risk.

The majority of Bergrin’s clients have been alleged gang members and drug dealers. Prosecutors accuse Bergrin of enlisting or trying to enlist hit men to kill key witnesses in cases against his clients – they claim his mantra was: “No witness, no case.”