Regulators to Probe Barron Hilton

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement said it will look at the ties between Hilton Hotels Corp. Chairman Barron Hilton and a self-described arms dealer and smuggler from Costa Mesa. Businessman Felix Vivas, who had spoken and corresponded numerous times with Hilton over an eight-year period, contacted the hotel executive in 1994 about a proposal to sell military helicopters to Mexico, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Hilton declined to participate in the venture. “Once Barron understood what this guy had in mind, he made clear that he wanted no part in it,” said Marc Grossman, spokesman for the Beverly Hills-based hotel and gaming company. The relationship came to light as part of an investigation commissioned by ITT Corp., which is the target of an unwanted $10.5-billion takeover offer launched by Hilton last January.