STUDENT TEACHER JAILED ON CHARGES OF SELLING DRUGS

TAMPA - Officials Say There Is No Evidence The Suspect Sold Drugs While
Teaching At The School

A student teacher at Cahoon Elementary School who agents say was a
wholesale distributor of drugs was arrested Wednesday after allegedly
spending four years in the illegal business.

Michael Cabal, 28, who has helped teach second-graders at the school daily
since August, is in jail without bail. A federal agent testified that Cabal
had been selling drugs for four years.

The University of South Florida senior was set to graduate next week with
an education degree. He was required to complete the internship for the degree.

Cabal also interned at the north-central Tampa school last spring, working
with first-, second-, third- and fifth-graders. He received "generally
favorable" evaluations, said school district spokesman Mark Hart.

School officials were contacting parents of the 22 children in Cabal's
class on Thursday night to tell them about his arrest. Teachers and
guidance counselors plan to talk to the children about the incident today.

There is no evidence that any of the drug activity occurred at the school
or with students, Hart said. "He will in all probability not be returning
here or to any other school in Hillsborough County," Hart said.

If convicted, Cabal faces up to 20 years in prison.

Drug Enforcement Administration agent Jeb Ferebee testified that Cabal had
saved $195,000 from his drug sales over the years. He said agents had not
found the money.

A confidential informant led DEA agents to Cabal and his co-defendant,
Ihorys Casals, 26. Casals is also charged with possession with intent to
distribute Ecstasy.

The informant told agents that Cabal had been distributing Ecstasy,
marijuana and ketamine, which is a component of Ecstasy, since 1997. He
also said Cabal sold GHB, a drug commonly known as roofies - a sedative
that is often used in date rapes.

After a buyer called Cabal looking for drugs, agents followed Cabal to a
grocery store parking lot where they say he met Casals. Ferebee testified
that Casals took a box filled with 4,000 Ecstasy tablets from his trunk and
passed it to Cabal, who was sitting in his car.

Casals had 3,000 Ecstasy tablets hidden in a storage shed, Ferebee
testified. The 7,000 pills had a street value of $140,000 to $210,000,
Ferebee testified.

Agents searched a storage locker that was registered in the name of Cabal's
sister. They found two portable safes with anabolic steroids inside. Agents
also found, syringes and a prescription pain killer on Cabal when he was
arrested, Ferebee testified.

U.S. Magistrate Mark Pizzo decided Cabal should remain in jail with no
bail. A detention hearing for Casals is scheduled today.

Staff writer Marilyn Brown contributed to this story.