The jury has been dismissed and all seven defendants have been arrested in a Minneapolis coronavirus fraud case after a woman allegedly left a bag full of cash behind in hopes of an acquittal.
Last minute 9 pm On Sunday, a woman who appeared to be Somali, wearing a long dress and speaking with an accent, rang the doorbell at the home of a 23-year-old woman who had been appointed to serve on a jury in one of the country’s largest COVID-19 fraud cases.
An examination of the defendants’ cell phones revealed that each had “access” to information that could identify Juror #52.
The case involves seven defendants of East African descent who are accused of buying expensive real estate, jewelry, cars and other luxury items with $41 million earmarked for Feeding Our Future, an organization that provides food for underprivileged children. The case is part of a larger one that involves a total of 70 defendants and $250 million in allegedly stolen funds. So far, 18 defendants have pleaded guilty and $50 million has been recovered, according to the Associated Press. report.
A Somali woman who visited the juror’s home allegedly spoke with the juror’s father-in-law and handed the juror an ornate bag containing bills totalling $120,000. The woman also allegedly called the juror by his first name.
“This is for Juror Number 52.” Note attached to the bag “Tell them if they vote not guilty they’ll get another bag,” he allegedly said.
Juror #52 was not at home at the time. When she returned home, her stepfather explained the situation and Juror #52 immediately called 911. The bag full of cash is now FBI.
“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.
In court Monday morning, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson described the alleged jury tampering that took place without the jury present. “This is outrageous. It’s the kind of thing you see in mob movies,” he said. “It really gets to the heart of this case.”
U.S. District Judge Nancy Brazel expressed similar concerns, ordering the confiscation of the defendants’ cellphones and the jury sequestered. “I do not do this lightly, but I want to ensure a fair trial,” she said.
Brazell also dismissed Juror 52, described by the Sahan Journal as “the only person of color on the jury,” and asked the other jurors and alternates individually whether they had ever tried to accept a similar bribe. All answered in the negative.
Confident that the trial could proceed, Judge Brazell allowed the defense to make closing arguments, followed by the prosecution’s rebuttal, after which the case was sent to the jury for deliberation.
Until Monday, the seven defendants — Abdiwahab Aftin, Abdiaziz Farah, Saeed Farah, Mohammed Jama Ismail, Abdimadjid Noor, Hayat Noor and Mukhtar Sharif — had been released on bail. But in the wake of the bribery allegations, Judge Brassel overruled the defense and rearrested all of them. They will remain in custody until the jury reaches a verdict.
A search of the defendants’ cell phones revealed that they all “had access” to information that could identify Juror No. 52, according to the search warrant affidavit.
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