Did NJ Defense Attorney Order Hit? Secret Recordings Played in Paul Bergrin Case

Secret recordings played at the racketeering trial of once-prominent New Jersey defense attorney Paul Bergrin suggest he discussed killing witnesses and launching a global drug distribution network.

The tapes were played Tuesday in the trial of Paul Bergrin, whose clients once numbered rap stars and other entertainers.

Bergrin faces a 26-count indictment that charges him with running his law firm as a racketeering enterprise and allegedly engaged in drug trafficking, prostitution, bribery, witness tampering and plotting to murder witnesses.

Oscar Cordova, and admitted member of the Latin Kings gang, secretly recorded Paul Bergrin allegedly saying the two could make a profit of $1 million a week in a proposed drug trafficking venture, if they eliminated competitors.

Paul Bergrin is representing himself. A prior trial ended in a hung jury on two murder counts.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.