Bergrin Given Life Sentence

A New Jersey defense attorney who once had a roster of celebrity clients has been sentenced to life in prison after his conviction on nearly two dozen counts including murder and racketeering.

Paul Bergrin was sentenced Monday in a federal courtroom in Newark.

Bergrin and several associates were accused in May 2009 with running Bergrin's law business as a criminal enterprise. The U.S. attorney's office charged Bergrin with more than 30 counts including racketeering, setting up the murder of a witness, money laundering and drug offenses.

A first trial on two murder counts ended in a hung jury two years ago. Bergrin was convicted in March on 23 counts. The other defendants had already pleaded guilty.

Bergrin once represented Lil' Kim, Queen Latifah and rappers Naughty By Nature.

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