[stop-polabuse] corNJ02-Cops called as defense witnesses by drug dealer
Michael Novick
From the story below:
"Officer Michael Hearne, a 13-year department veteran, was among the
officers at the courthouse. ...Hearne was captured on a tape recording
played in the trial allegedly advising Rivera on how to handle narcotics
investigators in June 1997....'Don't do nothing. Don't do nothing,' Hearne
is heard telling Rivera."
Defense case begins in drug trial; at least 12 Camden officers subpoenaed
By Melanie Burney, Associated Press, 2/14/2000 19:21
CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) At least a dozen Camden police officers have been
subpoenaed to possibly testify as defense witnesses in the trial of two
accused drug lords, a defense lawyer said Monday.
The prosecution, meanwhile, wrapped up its case Monday, with its star
witness, the second-highest ranking member of the largest cocaine cartel in
Camden's history, completing three days of testimony.
Jose ''JR'' Rivera, 40, of Cherry Hill, and Luis ''Tun Tun'' Figueroa, 34,
of Camden, are accused of conspiring to distribute hundreds of tons of
cocaine in the city. Rivera is also accused of laundering drug profits
through his businesses.
During the federal trial, in its seventh week, drug dealers have named
current and former city police officers who they said tipped them off to
raids or shook them down for bribes.
Authorities have said the multimillion dollar drug ring flourished in
Camden for nearly a decade, in part, because of its close ties to law
enforcement.
Five convicted drug dealers have testified that Mayor Milton Milan before
becoming the city's mayor in 1997 sold drugs and bought bulk quantities of
cocaine from the ring.
It was unclear what testimony the police officers subpoenaed last week by
Rivera's attorney, Marc Neff, might offer if called when the trial resumes
Wednesday.
''Wait and see,'' said Neff.
Rivera, the accused financier of the drug organization, and Figueroa, the
alleged enforcer, are the only two among 15 defendants charged in the case
to stand trial. Both face life in prison if convicted.
In other testimony Monday, the prosecution's final witness, Saul ''Gordo''
Febo, again admitted his role in the 1993 slaying of a rival drug dealer,
but identified Figueroa as the triggerman.
Febo, 32, said he had no choice but to go along with the plan when summoned
by Figueroa. Febo said he turned up the volume on the radio to muffle
gunshots fired by Figueroa.
''I didn't want the guys to think I was a punk,'' he said.
In one of the most bizarre moments in the trial, Figueroa's attorney,
Carlos Martir, asked Febo about a tattoo on his stomach one of 14 he has.
''You want to see it?'' Febo said.
Febo stood up at the witness stand and pulled up his white T-shirt to
display the arch-shaped message above his navel. It read: ''F--- the FBI.''
''Today being Valentine's Day you might want to change it to `I Love the
FBI,''' bantered Martir.
''No,'' replied Febo. ''Happy Valentine's Day.''
At least five Camden officers were waiting in the courtroom hallway to be
called to testify. U.S. District Judge Joseph H. Rodriguez sent the jury
home in the mid-afternoon, saying the next witness would not be available
until Wednesday.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Smith said the trial was recessed to allow
the defense time to review a box of documents it received Monday from the
prosecution. The documents are believed to be evidence that could impeach
the credibility of testimony by some of the police officers.
Officer Michael Hearne, a 13-year department veteran, was among the
officers at the courthouse. His attorney, Stanley O. King, said the defense
informed him that they no longer plan to call him as a witness.
''We really don't know where this is going,'' King said. ''He was just one
of many cops that were called. We don't know, quite honestly, how they plan
to use them.''
Hearne was captured on a tape recording played in the trial allegedly
advising Rivera on how to handle narcotics investigators in June 1997. The
conversation was secretly recorded by a drug dealer-turned informant.
''Don't do nothing. Don't do nothing,'' Hearne is heard telling Rivera.
King said Hearne maintains his innocence and denies any involvement with
the drug organization. Hearne, 35, is still on the police force.
Authorities said the ring had connections in the police department that
allowed it to keep a step ahead of investigators. Police officers were
known to frequent Rivera's gym in Camden and escort him to the bank to make
large deposits.
Milan's former police bodyguard has admitted selling Rivera an illegal
assault weapon. Febo testified last week that another police detective once
assigned to the mayor's security detail warned him about raids.
Camden Police Chief Robert Allenbach has said the allegations against the
officers will be investigated when the trial is over.
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is
distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research
and educational purposes only.
Join the "stop police abuse" list at http://www.egroups.com - subscribe to
stop-polabuse
People Against Racist Terror (PART) PO Box 1055 Culver City CA 90232
Tel.: 310-495-0299 E-mail: <part...@usa.net>
URL: <http://people.we.mediaone.net/part2001/index.html>
Order our quarterly print publication:
"Turning the Tide: Journal of Anti-Racist Action, Research & Education"
Mumia Must Live!End the racist death penalty!
Free Leonard Peltier, Linda Evans, Mutulu Shakur, Oscar Lopez
and all political prisoners and P.O.W.'s in U.S. prisons!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save on products you choose!
http://click.egroups.com/1/1416/4/_/21725/_/950599787/
-- 20 megs of disk space in your group's Document Vault
-- http://www.egroups.com/docvault/stop-polabuse/?m=1