JURY FOREMAN ON TRIAL FOR BRIBERY

MIAMI (AP) A jury foreman who allegedly accepted hundreds of
thousands of dollars in bribes to vote for acquittal in a high-profile
cocaine-smuggling case is now himself on trial.

Federal prosecutors say Miguel Moya bought a home in the Florida Keys,
season tickets to the Florida Marlins, vacations and more after voting
to acquit two men described as the nation's top cocaine smugglers
during the 1980s.

Opening statements were scheduled for today.

The 1996 acquittals of Augusto "Willie" Falcon and Salvador "Sal"
Magluta, who had been accused of making $2 billion in profits on 75
tons of cocaine smuggled into the United States, humiliated
prosecutors and ultimately led to the resignation of U.S. Attorney
Kendall Coffey.

A representative of Falcon and Magluta contacted Moya and gave him
about $500,000 for his vote and his influence on other jurors,
according to a November indictment.

Jurors deliberated for three days before telling the judge they could
not reach a verdict. Hours later, they returned the acquittals.

Apparently upset at the verdict, Coffey went to a club afterward. He
resigned after a newspaper reported he was under investigation by the
Justice Department for allegedly biting a topless dancer on the arm.

Moya, an aircraft hydraulic engineer who coached youth football, faces
bribery, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, money laundering
and false tax return charges. If convicted on all counts, he could be
sentenced to 130 years in prison.

Also indicted were his parents, Jose and Rafaela Moya. Convictions on
money laundering, witness tampering and accessory charges could send
them to prison for up to 62 1/2 years.

Falcon and Magluta are in prison on lesser charges filed after their
cocaine trial. Moya's trial is expected to last at least two weeks.