In a shocking turn of events, five individuals have been charged with conspiring to bribe a juror during the trial of seven defendants accused of embezzling federal funds meant for children's food programs during the Covid-19 pandemic. The attempted bribery took place on the eve of the final day of the weekslong trial, which has been ongoing since early 2024.
According to court documents, Ladan Mohamed Ali was recruited by Abdimajid Mohamed Nur to carry out the scheme. Ali was identified as the woman who dropped off a bag containing $120,000 in cash at the juror's home and offered more money if she voted for acquittal of all defendants. The group targeted the youngest and only person of color on the jury panel, believing her to be easily influenced.
Abdiaziz Shafii Farah drove Ali to the juror's house where she handed over the money, while Abdulkarim Shafii Farah stayed in the car and took a video of the interaction. The defendants had researched the juror's personal information, daily habits, and followed her home before installing a tracking device on her car.
The attempted bribery was reported by the juror who was subsequently removed from the case before deliberations began. Authorities believe that this incident highlights laxity in Covid-19 pandemic oversight and raises concerns about corruption within federal trials.
Three of the defendants charged with attempted bribery were among those convicted in the case, including Abdiaziz Shafii Farah and Abdimajid Mohamed Nur. The overall scheme is estimated to have diverted over $250 million in federal funds from their intended purpose.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI are currently investigating this matter further, with more than 70 people charged in connection to the embezzlement of food aid for children.
