Pubdate: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Section: Metro, page 6 Copyright: 2002, The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 Author: Catherine Wilson, Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) JURY POOL DROPPING IN DRUG KINGPIN CASE MIAMI - Two dozen jury candidates asked Monday to speak privately about problems they might have if they were chosen to hear the witness-killing and jury-bribery trial of a 47-year-old reputed cocaine kingpin. Most raised their hands to indicate problems after the judge outlined plans for sequestering Sal Magluta's jury. Prospective jurors who cleared individual questioning were told to return today with a packed bag for final selection on a trial expected to last three to five months. The jury pool of 51 dropped below the number needed to seat a panel if lawyers use all their challenges. If that happened, U.S. District Judge Patricia Seitz repeated her plan to move the trial to Fort Lauderdale. Seitz plans to have a 12-member jury with six alternates. Magluta and partner Willy Falcon allegedly made a $2 billion profit running drugs for Colombia's Medellin cocaine cartel through Miami in the 1980s. They were acquitted of drug charges after the jury foreman took a $500,000 bribe, and prosecutors followed up with different charges against them and members of their organization. The foreman went to prison. Magluta is charged with putting out successful hits on three witnesses and trying to kill three others, jury bribery and laundering more than $20 million in drug profits. A jury candidate who works with Magluta's daughter-in-law was told to return today although prosecutors want him excused. The judge earlier decided the jury would be anonymous to protect against any attempts to corrupt them. - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager