Sal Magluta

Salvador Magluta was born into a Cuban family who owned a bakery in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida. He and Willy Falcon both dropped out of Miami Senior High School, where they were small-time marijuana dealers before becoming involved in the burgeoning cocaine trade.[1][2]

Magluta, along with his partner Falcon, was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 1991 for a plethora of drug trafficking crimes, including operating a continuing criminal enterprise accused of importing and distributing over 75 tons of cocaine.[3][4] Magluta was represented by Roy Black, Martin Weinberg, and Richard Martinez who was Magluta's brother in law.[3] His partner Falcon was represented by Albert Krieger, Susan Van Dusen, and D. Robert "Bobby" Wells.[5] Both Magluta and Falcon were found not guilty after a lengthy trial before Judge Federico Moreno.

In 1997, Magluta was sentenced to 9 years for falsifying documents and jumping bail.[6]

Following the 1996 trial, the United States Attorney's Office directed an investigation into Magluta and Falcon's finances that ultimately revealed that members of their jury - including the jury foreman - had been bribed. Magluta, Falcon, several of the jurors, their associates and even some of their lawyers were ultimately charged with various criminal offenses arising from the conduct.[7][8] In 2003, Magluta's father and son pled guilty to stashing illegal drug money which was used to bribe jurors and intimidate witnesses.[9]

In 2002, Magluta was tried for bribing jurors, money laundering and obstruction of justice including killing witnesses.[10] He was found guilty on 12 of the 39 counts against him.[11]

Magluta was eventually sentenced to 205 years in federal prison.[12] His sentence was later reduced to 195 years on appeal.[13] He was initially transferred to the supermax federal prison facility in Florence, Colorado. Magluta was later represented by Paul Petruzzi and Richard Klugh and sought a new trial claiming over 40 legal violations.[14]