CAMDEN MAYOR ON HOT SEAT AS FBI INFORMANT TAKES STAND

CAMDEN -- Shortly after taking office, Mayor Milton Milan told
his police bodyguard to retrieve an assault weapon illegally sold
to an accused drug kingpin, an FBI informant testified this week.

Juan Marquez, in federal court Monday, said he was present when
Detective Pierre Robinson came to the auto-parts store owned by Jose
"J.R." Rivera in mid-July 1997 to get the weapon.

Robinson, assigned to Milan's security detail, has since admitted
selling the weapon to Rivera the year before. Rivera is accused of
heading a multimillion-dollar cocaine ring in Camden.

"Milton had told him [Robinson] to get in touch with J.R. and get that
Uzi that he sold to J.R.," Marquez testified. "Just in case they
raided or something, they wouldn't find it in the premises and be able
to link that to anyone."

City government was shut down Tuesday because of the snowstorm, and
Milan could not be reached for comment. He has denied involvement with
the reputed drug ring and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.

Marquez, a former bodybuilder and drug dealer for the alleged cocaine
ring, provided no additional details about Milan's alleged connection
to the weapon and was not asked to elaborate during questioning by the
prosecutor.

Federal authorities seized the weapon in February 1998 when Rivera was
arrested on drug charges and the ring was destroyed.

Almost a year later, Robinson pleaded guilty to selling the weapon to
Rivera in June 1996. He told the judge he tried to retrieve the weapon
after learning it was illegal to sell it.

Rivera, 40, and co-defendant Luis "Tun" Figueroa, 34, are on trial on
drug conspiracy charges. Prosecutors allege that Rivera was financier
for the drug organization and that Figueroa was its enforcer.

During the trial, now in its fourth week, Milan's name has surfaced
several times. Marquez testified last week that Milan tipped off drug
dealers on impending police raids after he was elected mayor in May
1997.

Milan was not named in taped conversations played in court
Monday.

Marquez secretly recorded dozens of conversations with Rivera and
others between 1996 and 1998.

Federal authorities have been investigating corruption in Camden, and
Milan's former attorney said the mayor was a target of that probe.

Milan's home and City Hall office were searched in
August.

Marquez said that while an FBI informant, he was paid $2,800 a month.
He has since been placed in a federal witness protection program and
received $50,000 to start a new life, defense lawyers said.

Testimony was canceled Tuesday because of the storm. Marquez, who has
spent four days on the stand, will continue testimony when the trial
resumes.

If convicted, Rivera and Figueroa face life in prison.