MAN GETS 30 YEARS IN COCAINE CASE

A federal judge in Mobile sentenced an Atlanta man Wednesday to 30 years in
prison for running cocaine between the two cities.

A jury last fall convicted Frankie Miller of distributing crack cocaine and
related money-laundering charges. Federal prosecutors described Miller, a
Mo bile native, as a major dealer who had been in operation for more than
10 years. He had no serious criminal record prior to the conviction.

Authorities dropped earlier indictments against Miller twice in five years,
the second time in part because former Prichard Police Sgt. John Stuckey,
himself now a cocaine convict, handled evidence against Miller. After
prosecutors abandoned the second indictment, Miller sought to recover
$16,200 that Stuckey and other officers had seized from him. Prichard
authorities were unable to locate the money, intensifying an FBI probe into
the officers' conduct.

Stuckey and three other officers pleaded guilty to corruption charges
earlier this month. Two others await trial before the end of the month.