U.S. ALLEGES PATTERN OF GREED ON FIRST DAY OF CAMDEN TRIAL

Camden, N.J., Nov. 6 (Associated Press) - The federal corruption trial of
Mayor Milton Milan opened today with a government lawyer saying evidence
and testimony will show a pattern of "greed, opportunity and deception."

The lawyer, Mary A. Futcher, an assistant United States Attorney, told the
jury in her opening statement that Mr. Milan was willing to take money and
benefits "from anyone, anywhere, at any time" from the moment he was
elected to the City Council in 1995.

Carlos Martir Jr., one of Mr. Milan's defense lawyers, countered that the
mayor was motivated by his desire to help his native city and not by his
own interests.

Mr. Milan, 37, is accused in a 19- count indictment of accepting payoffs
from organized crime figures and vendors interested in obtaining contracts
or favorable treatment; laundering more than $60,000 in illegal drug
proceeds; extorting a $5,000 bribe from a city official; and staging a
break-in at his own business to collect insurance payments. He has pleaded
not guilty to all charges. A conviction would force him to give up his
office in this troubled waterfront city, New Jersey's poorest, which has
been taken over by the state.

Ms. Futcher said separate investigations all led to Mr. Milan, including
inquiries into the Philadelphia-South Jersey mob, Camden drug rings and
allegations that a Camden city employee was ordered to make a political
contribution to keep his job.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ms. Futcher told jurors, had never
even heard of Mr. Milan in the summer of 1995, when it was investigating
the Philadelphia-South Jersey Mafia and its head, Ralph Natale. Mr. Natale,
who is under indictment himself and cooperating with prosecutors, was
seeking access to millions in federal and state funds destined for Camden,
Ms. Futcher said.

In his opening statement, Mr. Martir said the case was about politics.

"The government is attempting to do criminally what they couldn't do
politically, which is to bring Milton Milan down," he said.

He told the jury that many of those planning to testify were criminals
seeking leniency. "They'll say anything and do anything in order to avoid
the potential of serving time in jail," he said.