MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO HEROIN CHARGE

MIAMI -- A former Colombian soap opera star has pleaded guilty to trying to
smuggle 2 pounds of swallowed heroin through Miami International Airport.

Luis Fernando Montoya Correa, 43, who played in "Padres E Hijos" and other
Spanish-language soap operas, changed his plea Friday with a trial date set
for Monday.

In exchange for his plea on the importation charge, prosecutors said they
would drop a second drug-distribution charge at sentencing Nov. 14.

Assistant U.S. Public Defender Omar Malone said he hoped Montoya would end
up serving 2 to 3 years on the charge carrying a maximum 20-year prison
sentence.

In a previous court appearance, a customs officer testified that Montoya
said he needed money to care for a sick child after his acting jobs dried
up a year ago.

Montoya was arrested when he appeared nervous at an airport customs
checkpoint after his arrival May 27. He later passed 100 latex-covered
pellets filled with heroin, officials said.