A juror in a Minneapolis trial over the theft of $250 million in pandemic relief funds was told he received a bag delivered to his home containing $120,000 in cash, along with a note promising him even more if he voted not guilty.
The bribes were delivered to the jurors’ homes on Sunday evening, just hours before they were due to return to court to hear closing arguments in the trial.
Juror No. 52, a 23-year-old woman, was not at home when the bag was left behind, but a family member who was at home showed it to her and immediately called the police.
“This is completely outrageous,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in court Monday. “This is outrageous conduct. It’s the kind of thing you see in mob movies.”
All seven defendants in the case were arrested following the attempted bribery and are back in custody.
The jury was later dismissed from the trial, which was asking whether members of the Minneapolis nonprofit Feeding Our Future stole more than $40 million intended to feed children during the pandemic.
Juror 52’s father-in-law was at the home when the money was delivered and confirmed that the woman who left it was Somali. According to Sahan Journal.
Seven of the defendants in the case are from East Africa.
The bag contained stacks of $20, $50 and $100 bills, according to an FBI affidavit.
“It is highly likely that individuals with access to the personal information of jurors conspired with the women to provide at least $120,000 in bribes,” the affidavit states.
Before the trial began Monday, the 17 remaining jurors and alternate jurors were asked if they had accepted bribes.
No one testified, but U.S. District Judge Nancy Brazel decided to sequester the jurors for the remainder of the trial.
The seven defendants on trial are the first of 70 expected to go on trial over the massive scheme that has cost taxpayers about $250 million.
Eighteen others have already pleaded guilty.
The defendants were led out of the courtroom in handcuffs on Monday after the bribery allegations came to light.
With post wire.
