2 JURORS GUILTY OF TAKING BRIBES IN MIAMI DRUG KINGPINS CASE

MIAMI -- Two jurors pleaded guilty Friday for taking bribes to swing acquittals
for two reputed drug kingpins during the reign of Miami's cocaine cowboys.

Gloria Alba pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and Maria Penalver
admitted an obstruction conspiracy charge three weeks after they were charged
with helping corrupt the 1996 trial of Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon.

The pleas represent the first time federal prosecutors know of more than one
conviction of a bribe-taking juror in a single trial.

Alba and her husband Isael admitted getting less than $300,000 of a promised $1
million. Prosecutors said Penalver took about $20,000.

The 1980s drug runners were convicted afterward in the bribe scheme. Magluta is
serving a life sentence and Falcon is in prison for 20 years. Their foreman,
Miguel Moya, is serving a 17-year sentence for taking a $500,000 bribe.

Magluta and Falcon reputedly made a $2 billion profit on 78 tons of smuggled
cocaine while turning Miami into the drug capital of the world in the 1980s.

Their acquittal wiped out drug charges filed in 1991, but prosecutors pursued
fresh charges resulting in more than 40 convictions.