Prosecutor: Milan was `open for business'

By CLINT RILEYand RENEE WINKLER
Courier-Post Staff
CAMDEN

"I Milton Milan do solemnly swear, or affirm, that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform all the duties of the office of Mayor of the City of Camden according to the best of my ability. So help me God." - oath of office taken by Milton Milan on July 1, 1997.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Renee Bumb insisted inside a federal courtroom Monday, "that oath wasn't worth the paper it was written on."

The federal prosecutor argued to a jury during five hours of closing remarks that Milan's public life amounts to no more than a chronology of crime and corruption that repeatedly betrayed the citizens who elected him, first to City Council in 1995, then as mayor two years later.

"Milton Milan was open for business," Bumb argued. "... Milton Milan was an ineffective mayor because he was too busy lining his own pockets and conducting his business."

Armed with a pointer and more than half dozen colorful charts, the prosecutor meticulously summarized the government's complex, 19-count corruption case against the first-term mayor like a teacher trying to simplify the nuances of algebra in one lesson.

Government prosecutors presented more than 60 witnesses and 700 pieces of evidence for the jury to consider during the past five weeks. On Monday, Bumb attempted to tie the pieces together, telling jurors the evidence clearly shows that Milan:

•laundered $65,000 in drug money;

•staged a break-in with his former business partner to collect insurance money illegally;

•accepted $30,000 to $50,000 in bribes from the Mafia;

•used campaign money to pay for a vacation to Puerto Rico;

•received two vehicles and thousands of dollars in free work on his home from city contractors;

•and authorized the shakedown of a $5,000 political contribution from the city's public defender.

If convicted on all counts, the 38-year-old Milan could face more than 10 years in federal prison without parole.

Milan left court Monday without comment. Carlos Martir Jr., Milan's lead lawyer whom the mayor unsuccessfully attempted to fire on Friday, is scheduled to make his closing remarks to jurors today. Jurors could begin deliberations by day's end.

"There are always two sides to the story," Martir said. " And that's what we are prepared to do tomorrow."

The defense is expected to focus on the credibility of the mayor's main accusers: Philadelphia/South Jersey mob boss Ralph Natale, convicted city drug lord Jose "JR" Rivera, Milan's former business partner Gholam "Joseph" Darakhshan and former Camden Municipal Prosecutor Joseph Caruso.

The prosecution spent Monday trying to reinforce the testimony of those witnesses and others by showing that their testimony about the mayor's involvement in alleged illegal acts between 1994 - before he was elected to public office - and 1999, is supported by documents and/or recorded conversations.

The strength of the government's case - backed by dozens of bank records and other documents - involves Milan allegedly helping launder $65,000 in cash received from Rivera, one of Camden's most notorious drug dealers, before taking public office. Both Rivera and Darakhshan testified that Milan must have known Rivera was involved in the illegal drug trade when he borrowed the cash from Rivera to help Milan and Darakhshan's construction company keep a government contract in late 1994 and early 1995.

Prosecutors have shown jurors document after document to support Rivera's and Darakhshan's testimony about the $65, 000 transaction - specifically how the loan was broken down by Milan, Darakhshan and family members in amounts less than $10,000 to disguise its origin.

If Milan knew the money came from legitimate means, Bumb argued, he would have deposited it in the bank all at once.

"Why else structure it (the cash)?" Bumb asked. "Look at all the work involved."

The prosecutor also spent significant time Monday revisiting government allegations that Milan accepted between $30,000 and $50,000 in cash and gifts from the Philadelphia/South Jersey La Cosa Nostra.

Bumb repeatedly reminded jurors that to win a conviction, prosecutors do not have to prove the mob received any city contracts in exchange for the alleged payments to Milan, only that the mayor took "official action" on their behalf.

The prosecutor conceded that Natale is a thug and killer, but said testimony by the former mob boss turned government witness is credible.

Bumb replayed for jurors what she described as several " unguarded moments of truth" about Milan that were captured secretly on tape by former mob captain Ronald Previte and during recorded telephone conversations between mob associate Daniel Daidone, Milan and others involved in trying to obtain potentially lucrative government contracts in Camden.

Natale testified that Daidone was his go-between with Milan, delivering his wishes and payoffs to the mayor.

"I'm gonna give him 500," Natale told Previte on June 6, 1997, in a conversation about "the mayor." "It assures us that he's our kind a guy. He's a man's man. Smart, though.

"And looking to make money," Natale added.

Bumb continued to remind jurors of words Milan uttered months later: "Listen, I wanted to reach out to you anyway because I wanted to see if, uhm, maybe you could help me. I got a couple, few outstanding, uh, things I wanted to take care of ...," Milan told Daidone in a telephone conversation secretly recorded by the FBI on Dec. 2, 1997.

"Maybe, uh, some sort of uhm, resource available if you can help me," Milan asked the Gloucester City seafood salesman.

Less than two hours later, FBI agents watched Daidone walk into City Hall to see Milan, shortly after Daidone cashed a $9,000 check at a Philadelphia bank.

"He (Daidone) dealt with fish," Bumb reminded jurors. " How does a lobster take care of a `few outstanding things'?"