Lawyer charged with murder conspiracy

NEWARK, N.J., May 20 (UPI) -- A former federal prosecutor in New Jersey was charged Wednesday with conspiring in the killing of a witness and trying to hire a hitman in another case.

Paul Bergrin, 53, now a prominent defense lawyer, was arrested by the FBI, the U.S. attorney's office said. Four others are also charged, including Thomas Moran, a lawyer who shares office space with Bergrin and was allegedly involved in the attempted hit.

"A licensed lawyer, a former prosecutor essentially became one of the criminals he represents, supporting, encouraging, indeed directing, a criminal enterprise that engaged in murder and murder conspiracies, drug trafficking and financial fraud," acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra said.

Bergrin, who was an assistant prosecutor in Essex County and then, from 1985 to 1990, an assistant U.S. attorney, allegedly passed on the name of a federal witness nicknamed Kemo to the associates of a client, telling them "No Kemo, no case." Kemo was shot to death soon after.

Moran and Bergrin also allegedly found a hired killer to get rid of three witnesses in a state drug case, not realizing the "hitman" was cooperating with federal investigators.

Bergrin is also charged with mortgage fraud.