MILAN JURORS SELECTED; FEDS PLAN TO PUSH DRUG ANGLE

Not long after a jury was selected yesterday for Camden Mayor Milton
Milan's corruption trial, federal prosecutors unveiled a tactical
weapon that had the defense screaming foul.

Although the case against Milan doesn't charge the mayor with drug
trafficking, the prosecution hopes to call two admitted Camden drug
kingpins-turned informants, to elicit testimony that Milan trafficked
in cocaine and borrowed drug money before turning to politics.

Such testimony is "clearly meant for one purpose," defense attorney
Carlos A. Martir Jr. complained to U.S. District Judge Joel Pisano,
"and that is to taint this trial."

"This is not a drug conspiracy indictment," Martir said,
indignantly.

"It is a political corruption indictment, period," he
emphasized.

"The taint is too great, your honor," Martir added, asking the judge
to bar such testimony.

All of this took place after the jury - eight women and four men,
including three African-Americans but no Hispanics and no residents of
Camden - was sent home, not to return until the trial begins on Nov.
6.

As for linking Milan to drug trafficking, Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Renee M. Bumb and Mary A. Futcher, the case prosecutors, contend such
testimony is necessary to prove two counts of a 19-count indictment.

These two counts allege that Milan knowingly laundered drug profits in
November 1994 by borrowing $65,000 from a known drug kingpin, Jose
"J.R." Rivera.

At the time, Milan was a contractor whose company was building houses
in Camden and needed $60,900 as collateral for a performance bond
required for the project.

Both Rivera and Saul Febo, the other drug kingpin, had a reputation in
Milan's neighborhood as drug dealers, the prosecutors told the judge.

Febo would testify that Milan "taught" Febo the drug business in 1985,
when Febo claims he was a worker in Milan's own drug network, the
prosecutors said.

Febo also claims that he sold Milan about 2.2 pounds of cocaine in
1992, when Febo had his own drug business, and that Milan asked about
buying another kilogram of cocaine in the summer of 1994, several
months before Milan borrowed the $65,000 from Rivera.

In exchange for their testimony against Milan, both drug dealers hope
to win some leniency for crimes, including murder.

Another prosecution witness, Milan's former partner in the
construction business, Gholan "Joe" Darakshan, who pleaded guilty
earlier to insurance fraud, will testify that Milan told him that Saul
Febo was the "biggest drug dealer around."

All of this would help prove that Milan knew the borrowed $65,000 came
from the drug trade, the prosecutors assert.

The judge said he would rule on whether such testimony was admissible
before the trial starts in 10 days.

In addition to money laundering, Milan is charged with taking bribes
from the mob and others, with extorting a $5,000 campaign
contribution, with insurance fraud, and with stealing $7,500 from a
campaign committee to pay for a group holiday in Puerto Rico.