GRAND JURY CONTINUES CAMDEN CORRUPTION PROBE

CAMDEN -- A City Council member and a former police bodyguard for
Mayor Milton Milan who admitted selling a gun to a drug dealer
testified Wednesday before a grand jury investigating Milan and
alleged municipal corruption in the city.

Meanwhile, a drug lord convicted last week of running the biggest drug
ring in Camden's history also made an appearance at the federal
courthouse, fueling speculation that a deal is in the works.

Milan has not been charged with a crime and has denied any wrongdoing.
He has been the target of the federal probe and his attorney has said
an indictment is expected.

In August, federal authorities raided Milan's home and office seeking
any evidence linking reputed mobster Ralph Natale to alleged
corruption in the city. They also were searching for evidence that
Milan was involved in extortion, conspiracy, and racketeering.

Councilman Ali Sloan-El on Wednesday became the sixth city lawmaker to
appear before the grand jury. Five of his colleagues -- including
Council President Gwen Faison -- were subpoenaed last week.

"They were definitely talking about the mayor," Sloan-El said when he
emerged from the second-floor grand jury room about 90 minutes later.
"This is about him."

Sloan-El, one of Milan's chief critics, was uncharacteristically
tight-lipped and refused to elaborate on his testimony before the
panel. Grand jury proceedings are conducted in secret, but witnesses
can be seen entering the room.

Federal prosecutors declined comment and it was unclear whether the
grand jury is wrapping up its work or planning to call additional
witnesses. The panel meets every Wednesday.

In a potentially stunning development, Jose "J.R." Rivera, the
convicted financier and procurer for an entrenched cocaine cartel, was
in the federal building while the grand jury met Wednesday.

Rivera's lawyer, Marc Neff, would not comment on whether Rivera
planned to cooperate with investigators, although Neff met with
federal prosecutors Wednesday.

"If he was going to cooperate, don't you think he would have done it
before he went to trial?" said Neff. "It doesn't appear to be in the
cards."

During the trial, which ended with convictions against Rivera and an
associate, some witnesses linked Milan to Rivera. One witness
testified that Rivera once bragged that he bankrolled Milan's mayoral
campaign.

Five admitted drug dealers also testified that Milan bought and sold
cocaine before becoming mayor in 1997. One dealer alleged that Milan
- -- after his election -- tipped him off about a federal investigation
into the drug ring.

Milan, 37, a first-term Democrat, has come under intense scrutiny by
federal authorities. The grand jury has questioned city employees and
contractors and subpoenaed records.

Other council members have said they were questioned about city
contracts, resolutions, and organized crime. Other witnesses have said
the grand jury also is investigating political contributions.

The mayor's former bodyguard, Pierre Robinson, spent about 40 minutes
before the grand jury on Wednesday. He pleaded guilty last year to
selling an illegal assault weapon to Rivera.

When asked about his testimony, Robinson replied, "You know what they
were asking me about -- Mr. Milan."

During the trial, a former drug dealer for the ring testified that
Milan sent Robinson to retrieve the weapon from Rivera in 1997.
Authorities seized the weapon in February 1998 when they raided
Rivera's business.

Robinson, a 13-year law enforcement veteran, resigned from the city
police department and is cooperating with authorities. He is awaiting
sentencing on the weapons charge.