ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. AP – The trustee overseeing the Tropicana Casino and Resort wants to hire two prestigious New York firms to help prepare for a sale of the property, whose former owners were stripped of their license last month.

Retired state Supreme Court Justice Gary Stein said Friday he has chosen investment bankers Bear Sterns, and the law firm of Debevoise & Plimpton to help him find a buyer for the Tropicana, analyze offers, and to close the deal hopefully by the end of April.