Pubdate: Thu, 09 Mar 2000 Source: Bergen Record (NJ) Copyright: 2000 Bergen Record Corp. Contact: http://www.bergen.com/cgi-bin/feedback Website: http://www.bergen.com/ Author: Melanie Burney - The Associated Press 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Allan Wilkinson