FOREMAN ON 1996 COCAINE TRIAL JURY INDICTED ON BRIBE CHARGES

MIAMI, FLORIDA -- A jury foreman was indicted Tuesday on charges that he
took a $500,000 bribe to vote to acquit two men accused of making $2
billion by smuggling cocaine into the United States.

Miguel Moya, 35, was taken into custody after pleading not guilty to six
counts of bribery, obstruction of justice and conspiracy. Moya allegedly
spent the bribe money on a Cadillac, a Rolex watch, a house and a boat.

Also indicted were Moya's parents, Rafaela and Jose Moya, who have yet to
be arrested; they are accused of helping their son conceal the bribe money.

The investigation into the family was begun shortly after Augusto "Willie"
Falcon and Salvador "Sal" Magluta were acquitted in 1996 on charges they
smuggled 75 tons of Colombian cocaine into the country.

The case against them cannot be reopened because of laws against trying
someone twice for the same crime. The two faced life in prison if convicted.

Neither is a free man, however. Both are serving prison sentences on other
charges.

Prosecutors say agents for the two men paid the bribes to Moya in
installments and, as foreman, Moya had a unique opportunity to influence
the outcome of the trial, which ended in February 1996.

Moya faces up to 55 years in prison if convicted.

Checked-by: Pat Dolan