Two Jurors Dismissed in Feeding Our Future Trial Amidst Alleged Bribery Scandal

Minneapolis, Minnesota United States of America
Defendants include Abdiaziz Farah, whose home was raided by the FBI and had $64,000 in cash and four luxury vehicles confiscated.
Investigation led by FBI into conspiracy costing taxpayers over $250 million.
Seven defendants charged with 41 federal criminal counts, including fraud and money laundering.
Two jurors dismissed from Feeding Our Future trial due to alleged bribes.
Two Jurors Dismissed in Feeding Our Future Trial Amidst Alleged Bribery Scandal

In a shocking turn of events during the ongoing Feeding Our Future trial, two jurors have been dismissed due to attempted bribes. According to reports, a woman approached Juror #52's relative with a bag containing over $120,000 in cash and promised more if the juror voted for acquittal. The second juror was dismissed after hearing about the incident from a family member.

The trial involves seven defendants accused of defrauding government programs meant to feed children in need, with over $40 million stolen funds at stake. Two groups, Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition, are under investigation for producing invoices for meals that were never served and laundering money through shell companies.

The FBI is leading the investigation into this conspiracy that cost taxpayers over $250 million. The defendants have been charged with 41 federal criminal counts, including fraud and money laundering.

Abdiaziz Farah, one of the defendants, had his home raided by the FBI after an unrelated search warrant was executed in January 2022. Over $64,000 in cash and four luxury vehicles were confiscated from his property.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel sequestered the jury following the attempted bribes and added security to the courtroom.

The trial began on April 15, 2024, with jury selection taking place over several days. The jurors were instructed to remain anonymous throughout the trial due to potential threats and biases.

This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Are the names of the two dismissed jurors known?
  • Is it confirmed that the bribes were directly related to the trial outcome?

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Juror in fraud case given bag with $120K, promise for more ‘if she votes to acquit,’ FBI says

The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. María Luisa Thursday, 06 June 2024 12:00
  • Unique Points
    • A woman allegedly handed a gift bag containing $120,000 to a juror’s relative with a message promising more money if the juror voted to acquit in a fraud trial.
    • The trial involves 70 defendants accused of defrauding the government of over $250 million through pandemic relief programs meant for children in need.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (0%)
    The author uses emotional manipulation by describing the bribery attempt as 'outrageous behavior' and 'mob movie' material. She also uses sensationalism by implying that the defendants are involved in a 'brazen scheme of staggering proportions'. The article selectively reports details that support the author's position, such as the allegations of faked invoices and fabricated children's names, while omitting any information that might cast doubt on these allegations. The author also uses editorializing language, such as 'paint with a very broad brush' and 'inadequacies', to discredit the defendants.
    • This is outrageous behavior.
    • This is the stuff that happens in mob movies.
    • The night before a multimillion-dollar fraud trial was set to wrap up, a woman drove to the home of one of the jurors, who was not there at the time, prosecutors said. When the juror’s relative opened the door, the woman allegedly handed them a gift bag and parted with a message: ‘Tell her there will be another bag for her if she votes to acquit.’
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

As Feeding Our Future jury deliberates, FBI raids one defendant's home

Star Tribune Kelly Smith, Thursday, 06 June 2024 18:53
  • Unique Points
    • FBI raided Abdiaziz Shafii Farah's home during investigation of juror names leak and attempted bribe
    • Search at Farah’s house lasted for three hours, starting at 7:30 a.m.
    • Over $64,000 in cash and four vehicles including a Tesla and Porsche were confiscated from Farah’s home and cars
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy when the author states that 'An FBI agent testified during the six-week trial about finding more than $64,000 in cash inside Farah’s home and cars.' This statement implies that because an FBI agent testified about the cash found, it must be true and significant. However, this does not necessarily mean that the money was obtained illegally or through fraudulent means.
    • An FBI agent testified during the six-week trial about finding more than $64,000 in cash inside Farah’s home and cars.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Juror in fraud trial reports getting bag of $120,000 and promise of more if she'll acquit

MyNBC5 News Associated Press Tuesday, 04 June 2024 14:29
  • Unique Points
    • A juror reported receiving a bag of $120,000 in cash and a promise of more if she voted to acquit seven people charged with stealing over $40 million from a children’s food program.
    • The trial involves 70 defendants accused of defrauding the government of over $250 million through pandemic relief programs meant for children in need.
    • Two groups involved, Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition, disbursed around $200 million each in 2021.
    • Prosecutors allege these groups produced invoices for meals that were never served, ran shell companies, laundered money, indulged in passport fraud and accepted kickbacks.
  • Accuracy
    • A juror reported receiving a bag of $120,000 in cash and a promise of more if she voted to acquit.
    • At least 18 people have pleaded guilty in the case.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (95%)
    The author uses language that depicts the actions of the woman offering a bribe as 'outrageous behavior' and 'beyond the pale', implying that it is extreme or unreasonable. This demonstrates bias in reporting.
    • 'This is completely beyond the pale,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in court on Monday.
      • 'This is outrageous behavior. This is stuff that happens in mob movies.'
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      95%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Feeding our Future defendant's home raided by feds after attempted juror bribe

      Fox News Channel FOX 9 Thursday, 06 June 2024 18:56
      • Unique Points
        • A woman showed up at a juror's home with a bag of cash days before the raid on defendant Abdiaziz Farah’s home
        • Two jurors have been dismissed from the Feeding our Future trial due to an ‘unprecedented’ bribe attempt
        • A woman called police and informed the court after being approached with a $120,000 cash payment
      • Accuracy
        • The second dismissed juror had heard about the bribe from a family member
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains one informal fallacy: Appeal to Authority. The author quotes a former Hennepin County judge comparing the bribe attempt to the Jimmy Hoffa trial, which is an appeal to authority. However, there are no formal fallacies or dichotomous depictions in the article.
        • a former Hennepin County judge said he’s never heard of happening in Minnesota before and has even compared it to the Jimmy Hoffa trial.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      95%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      Juror offered more than $120,000 for acquittal in ongoing federal fraud case, FBI says

      CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Andy Rose Tuesday, 04 June 2024 18:53
      • Unique Points
        • Someone tried to bribe Juror #52 in a federal fraud trial in Minneapolis with over $120,000.
        • Juror #52 immediately reported the incident to authorities after receiving a bag of cash.
      • Accuracy
        • A woman allegedly handed a gift bag containing $120,000 to a juror’s relative with a message promising more money if the juror voted to acquit.
        • A woman called police and informed the court after being approached with a $120,000 cash payment for jury bribery.
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (85%)
        The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. The author uses the term 'high-profile' to describe the federal fraud trial, which is an evaluative term that adds emotional weight to the story without providing evidence for its significance. Additionally, there is an example of inflammatory rhetoric when the author describes Feeding Our Future as a 'non-profit organization allegedly used to skim nearly $250 million from federal child nutrition programs.' This statement uses strong language ('skim') to make the reader assume the worst about the non-profit without providing evidence. Lastly, there are instances of inflammatory rhetoric when referring to the bribery attempt as 'rocking' the trial and causing 'shock' among attorneys.
        • high-profile federal fraud trial
        • non-profit organization allegedly used to skim nearly $250 million from federal child nutrition programs
        • the FBI seized all seven defendants’ cell phones, but no one has been charged in connection with the attempted bribe.
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication