`WILLIE AND SAL' CASE CREATES LOTS OF HEADACHES

The mistrial in the Miguel Moya jury-fixing case was just the latest
of a series of events that have frustrated federal prosecutors since
reputed drug kingpins Willie Falcon and Sal Magluta were indicted on
racketeering charges in 1991.

Magluta and Falcon were charged with bringing 75 tons of cocaine into
the United States over 13 years, amassing $2.1 billion in assets. Some
potential government witnesses were killed before their trial began in
late 1995, but the two men were never charged in the deaths.

They were acquitted in 1996. The loss by federal prosecutors
ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey, who
sought solace at a strip club.

The acquittals didn't end the matter. Falcon is now serving 10 years
for firearms violations. Magluta walked away from a later trial on a
passport fraud charge, and was a fugitive for two months. Eventually
captured, he's now in prison on a variety of charges.

Magluta was linked to a new case this week, when a federal prison
guard was charged with accepting a $3,000 bribe for testifying on
behalf of an inmate. Authorities say the inmate got the money from
Magluta.

Moya, the jury foreman in the 1996 racketeering trial, was charged on
Aug. 18, 1998, with bribery, obstruction of justice, and witness
tampering. Friday's mistrial means his case is still open.