‘Enforcer’ Describes Violence in Drug Trade

An self-described “enforcer” and drug runner who said he once worked for a $2 million-a-month cocaine and heroin ring headed by Eldrader (Ray Ray) Browning Jr. told a federal jury Friday that violence was a way of life within the organization.

Convicted felon John (Big John) Milan, 32, was the last witness to testify for the government in the drug trafficking and conspiracy trial of Browning, 33, and an alleged associate, James H. (Doc) Holiday, 46. Both men are acting as their own legal counsel.

Dressed in a black T-shirt and khaki trousers, Milan took the stand in Los Angeles federal court to describe several brutal beatings and two attempts at murder that he said were carried out at Browning’s behest. Milan also told of twice ferrying to Detroit suitcases laden with drugs on orders from Browning and his second-in-command, Nei Wells. Wells pleaded guilty to four felony charges and has already testified for the government.

Under Browning’s cross-examination, Milan conceded that Browning never gave him direct orders to beat or kill anyone. On several occasions, Milan testified, the orders were delivered through lieutenants. When Browning spoke directly to him, Milan said, Browning ordered him only to “take care” of problems, without specifying the means.

Decided to Cooperate

Milan said he decided to cooperate with government agents investigating Browning’s alleged drug organization late last May, after two men opened fire on him in a suburban Detroit motel room where Browning had arranged for him to stay.

On one occasion, Milan said, he and three associates set off in two cars in search of a man named Capone. Leaders of the drug organization, including Browning, believed that Capone had murdered one of Browning’s associates, Milan testified.

That night, Milan said, he was armed with two handguns, two rifles, a garrote and a bayonet. Milan testified that he had defecated on the bayonet, “. . . so if I was to stab someone and the stab wound wouldn’t kill him, the infection would.”

Milan said he did not catch up with Capone that night, or on another occasion when he hid for five hours in bushes outside a home where he believed Capone was staying.

Milan said that Browning “didn’t give a direct order,” to kill Capone, but that a Browning associate “told me he (Browning) wanted us to deal with it.”

“What did he mean by that?” asked Assistant U.S. Atty. John S. Gordon, one of the two prosecutors in the case.

‘Kill Him’

Milan paused and replied, “Kill him.”

Milan recounted another incident, in which a man named Slim had passed a counterfeit $100 bill at an apartment where Browning’s group sold rock cocaine.

“At that time, I called you,” Milan told Browning during cross-examination, “and you told me to deal with it.”

“You took that to mean what?” Browning asked.

“Beat him up good,” Milan replied. Milan said he hit Slim in the head with a .38-caliber pistol, and shocked him with an electronic stun gun that Browning had provided through an intermediary. “Then I hit him with the butt of a rifle, and the rifle broke in half and it went off at the same time,” Milan testified.

Disposal of Body

When Milan called Browning to report on the incident, Browning said “it’s good we didn’t kill him because then we would have had to worry about getting the body out of here,” Milan told the jury.

During their cross-examinations, Browning and Holiday sought to portray Milan as an unreliable witness.

Browning played a tape recording of a telephone conversation in which Milan tearfully told Wells that he had mistakenly killed someone he had believed to be Capone. The recording was made during the government’s court-authorized wiretap of Wells’ telephone.

“That was just an act,” Milan told Browning.

Browning quickly asked: “How can I distinguish between that and the act you’re putting on now?”