Federal prosecutors have dropped criminal charges against a senior officer indicted as part of an alleged drug-distribution ring at a Florida City state corrections facility, the U.S. attorney's office confirmed Wednesday.

The charges against Capt. Jimmy Lee Love Jr., 33, of Homestead were dismissed this week before he and others were to face trial next Tuesday.

In July, FBI agents arrested Lee and four other correctional officers -- along with eight inmates and civilians -- in a crackdown on the alleged drug-dealing network at the Dade Correctional Institution.

They were charged with conspiring to traffic drugs inside a prison.

Most of the suspects were arrested at the facility, 19000 SW 377th St., and the rest at their homes.

According to court records, an undercover detective posed as a drug dealer. The detective eventually supplied the defendants with ''sham cocaine and heroin'' to be smuggled into the prison and sold.

In addition to Love, the other indicted corrections officers were Alexander Davis, 20, Dennard Fluker, 28, Ivis Grace, 27, and Shantavia Johnson, 21.

Among the other defendants: food services employee Felicia Calloway, 32, of Trinity Services Group; and an inmate's friend, Barbara Rodriguez, 29. Six inmates were also indicted.

The investigation, dubbed ''Operation Bird Cage,'' was a joint effort by the FBI, Homestead police and the Florida Department of Corrections.

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