Defense tries to discredit ex-Milan aide

By CLINT RILEY
Courier-Post staff
CAMDEN

Mayor Milton Milan's defense attorney on Tuesday attacked the credibility of a government witness, saying the former Milan adviser falsely invoked the mayor's name to get a political contribution from a job seeker.

The one-time adviser, Joseph S. Caruso of Voorhees, testified Monday during Milan's federal corruption trial that the mayor directed him to obtain a $5,000 donation from Camden municipal public defender Elliot Stomel in exchange for Stomel's reappointment to the $30,000, part- time post in 1997.

At the time, Caruso was a Milan fund-raiser, a member of the newly elected mayor's transition team and the city's municipal prosecutor.

Caruso pleaded guilty in January to violating the federal travel act in connection with soliciting the political contribution. The plea agreement came weeks after Caruso stood trial for illegally soliciting the contribution - a trial that ended with a hung jury.

On Tuesday, Carlos Martir Jr., Milan's lead defense lawyer, sought to discredit Caruso's testimony by using statements he made during his own trial and in earlier conversations with federal investigators.

Martir noted that Caruso, prior to his guilty plea, said repeatedly there was no quid pro quo involved in Stomel's contribution.

Caruso responded that he had not lied. Caruso said he was a messenger between Milan and Stomel and that there was no quid pro quo involving him.

Instead, he said, the quid pro quo involved Milan and Stomel.

Martir asked Caruso if he wouldn't have benefited personally and professionally by obtaining Stomel's contribution, which was intended for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jim McGreevey.

``I didn't know Mr. McGreevey,'' said Caruso, who in 1997 was chairman of Businesses for a Better Camden, a political action committee.

Caruso maintained he was the PAC's chairman in name only. He said he left the PAC's management to Milan's onetime personal attorney Carlos Morcate.

Caruso said he put his name on the PAC as a favor to Morcate and the mayor, who was raising funds for McGreevey.

Caruso agreed to testify against Milan as part of his plea agreement with federal prosecutors. Caruso, whose law license has been suspended since his plea, is awaiting sentencing.

Under cross-examination, a composed Caruso said the truth about the political contribution could be found on eight tape recordings that Stomel secretly made of conversations with Caruso about his reappointment as municipal public defender.

On the tapes, Caruso repeatedly mentions Milan as having a role in the alleged shakedown scheme.

``I think the tapes speak for themselves,'' Caruso said.