Career
His license to practice law was suspended by the New Jersey Supreme Court on June 16, 2009. Bergrin was charged with a multitude of federal criminal charges. On June 6, 2011, a federal grand jury returned a 138-page, second superseding indictment against Bergrin, previously accused of heading a crime syndicate involved in bribery, mortgage fraud and murder of a witness, now adding racketeering charges.
Nearly two months earlier, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated racketeering charges against the Newark lawyer
He had previously pleaded guilty to running a prostitution ring in New York called New York Confidential. He was sentenced to time served (amounting to several hours awaiting processing), 3 years Probation and forfeiture of $50,000.
From the time of his arrest in May 2009 until November 2009 Bergrin was held in solitary confinement by the United States. Bureau of Prisons. He was ordered released into the general population by a federal judge.
After being both a State and Federal prosecutor, Bergrin became a defense lawyer
Bergrin’s former clients included gang leaders, drug kingpin Hakeem "East.T Hak" Curry and celebrities, including Angelo “The Horn” Prisco, Queen Latifah, Naughty by Nature and Lil" Kim. He also represented Heather "Hedy" DiCarlo - the former Mistress New Jersey accused of bouncing more than $70,000 in checks.
New York Magazine called Bergrin "The Baddest Lawyer in the History of Jersey - And that’s saying something".
Bergrin first trial in 2011, on a portion of the charges, ended in a hung jury. The trial judge was William J. Martini, United States.D.J. Bergrin was represented by Larry Lustberg, Esq. of Gibbons Professional Corporation
Robert A. Mintz, Esq. of the Newark firm McCarter and English, was appointed Receiver for Bergrin"s law practice. On March 18, 2013, a jury convicted attorney Bergrin of all 23 counts on which he was tried, including conspiracy to murder a witness and other racketeering, cocaine and prostitution offenses.
The United States. Attorney for New Jersey, Paul J. Fishman, announced the verdict.
“Today, the jury returned the verdict compelled by the evidence and imposed the justice he deserved. We take no joy from his tragic fall, but I am extremely proud of the work done by those in my office and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service and Drug Enforcement Administration that led to this just result.”
Bergrin received a life sentence on September 23, 2013. On December 18, 2014, his convictions & sentences were upheld by a 3-judge federal appeals panel.
Bergrin was a Major in the United States. Army, serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment.
After his service, Bergrin held posts as a prosecutor in Essex County, New Jersey and, starting in 1987, for the United States. Government as an assistant United States. Attorney, where he served under both Samuel Alito and Michael Chertoff. From 1990 to 2005, Mr.
Bergrin was a partner at Pope, Bergrin & Verdesco.
