“There’s no witnesses, there’s no case.” This is what Paul Bergrin, a famous defense, attorney is accused of saying. This accusation is being made by Vicente Esteves. Esteves was arrested in 2008 in connection with drug distribution charges. At the time of his arrest, he was allegedly in the middle of arranging a drug delivery from Columbia.
Esteves then decided to hire Bergrin, who was, in the past, an assistant County, and federal prosecutor. Bergrin allegedly came up with an iron clad way to win his cases. His strategy was to kill the witnesses. Esteves hired Bergrin after receiving a recommendation from a fellow inmate when he was in the Monmouth County jail. It was there where the two allegedly worked together to devise a plan to kill all of the individuals who could serve as witnesses to Esteves’ crimes. They compiled a hit list of names using court records that Bergrin was able to attain.
In addition to allegedly offering to help his client you eliminate his witnesses Bergrin is also being accused of helping his client manipulate his tax returns, so that it would appear as if the money that he earned illegally was in fact legal income. This would then allow his client to use that money to pay bail, and then to set the plan of eliminating potential witnesses in motion. Bergrin eight week trial came to an end yesterday in the Federal Courthouse in Newark New Jersey. Bergrin was convicted on all counts, which included murder. A once prominent defense attorney, is now facing life in prison without the possibility of parole. In the federal justice system there is no possible parole like there is in the New Jersey criminal justice system.
If you or someone you know has been charged with a criminal offense, the Law Offices of Marshall, Bonus, Proetta & Oliver can help. We have over 100 years of combined experience on staff, including over twenty-five years of prior prosecuting experience. If you have any questions about your criminal case and would like a free initial consultation with any one of our eight Bergen County criminal defense attorneys please contact one of our offices.