Paul Bergrin (born December 8, 1955) is an American convicted felon and former criminal defense lawyer who practiced law in Newark, New Jersey.
[2] He was convicted of conspiracy to murder a witness and other racketeering, cocaine and prostitution offenses, and sentenced to six concurrent life terms in federal prison in 2013.
[6][7][8] After his discharge from the Army, Bergrin held posts as a prosecutor in Essex County, New Jersey and, starting in 1987, for the U.S. Government as an assistant U.S. Attorney, where he served under both Samuel Alito and Michael Chertoff.
[5] In November 1989, Bergrin testified as a character witness on behalf of two investigators for the Essex County prosecutor's office who were charged with protecting a Newark drug dealer in exchange for cocaine and money.
He defended Javal Davis (charged along with Lynndie England), an Army reservist from Roselle, New Jersey who in 2005 admitted abusing detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, as well as PFC Corey R. Clagett, who was convicted in the Iron Triangle Murders.
Carolyn was living with her father at the time under a joint custody agreement and had just spent three days with her mother, and Velez became angry that she had not returned sooner.
"[12] Velez was 40 years old when the trial began and had never been arrested before, and Bergrin suggested that "something had to happen" on account of his wife's "repeated threats to remove his children and not allow him to ever see them again.
[15] Velez later testified that Bergrin told her he needed her help to keep her father out of prison, and that "this is the kind of case where you can't tell the truth.
[14] Velez also recalled trips to New York toy stores, restaurants, and movies, as well as the gift of an autographed photo from one of Bergrin's other clients, Queen Latifah, which prosecutors characterized as bribes.
In 2001, Bergrin met Jason Itzler, who called him after being arrested at Newark Liberty International Airport for trying to smuggle ecstasy into the United States.
[26] Itzler served seven months in jail for the drug charge and was released on parole in 2003, after which he founded a prostitution ring in Manhattan called NY Confidential.
[26] Bergrin was paid as much as $5,000 a week in cash to launder the business' earnings through two shell companies, and enjoyed the prostitutes' services at the brothel's expense.
[28] In 2007, Bergrin was arrested and charged with money laundering, conspiracy, promoting prostitution, and misconduct by an attorney, with the possibility of up to 25 years in prison.
[29] On May 4, 2009, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges, and he was sentenced in September to time served (amounting to several hours awaiting processing), 3 years probation, and forfeiture of $50,000.
[citation needed] In 2012, the Third Circuit permitted the government to introduce evidence of another occasion when Bergrin had allegedly plotted the murder of a witness, who planned to testify against Richard Pozo.
[18] On March 18, 2013, a jury convicted attorney Bergrin of all 23 counts on which he was tried, including conspiracy to murder a witness and other racketeering, cocaine and prostitution offenses.
"Bergrin's conduct was a stunning violation of his role as an officer of the court and a betrayal of his roots as a member of law enforcement", said U.S. Attorney Fishman.
We take no joy from his tragic fall, but I am extremely proud of the work done by those in my office and agents from the FBI, IRS and DEA that led to this just result.