NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — A defense attorney and former federal prosecutor whose clients have included rap stars and a soldier at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq was charged Wednesday with arranging the killing of one witness and trying to hire a hit man to kill another.

Paul Bergrin is accused of murder and conspiracy to commit murder in a 14-count federal indictment. Four others also are named in the indictment, including Bergrin's fellow attorney, Thomas Moran.

The others face charges including racketeering, wire fraud and conspiracy in what prosecutors characterized as a criminal enterprise that also engaged in witness tampering, money laundering and drug trafficking.

"He employed every illegal tool available to keep murderers and drug dealers on our streets," acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra said of Bergrin. "His mantra was, 'No witness, no case.'"

Bergrin, who lives in Nutley, about 12 miles west of New York City, is a former Essex County Assistant Prosecutor who also worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney in Newark between 1985 and 1990.

Bergrin, 53, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Madeline Cox Arleo in handcuffs with the other defendants. He will be jailed pending a bail hearing next week.

"He is claiming his innocence," Bergrin's attorney, Gerald Shargel, said. "These are very serious charges and we are going to mount a serious defense." Click here read JUICEY JUICE.