A juror in a Minneapolis trial related to $250 million in stolen pandemic aid reported that she had a sack with $120,000 in cash delivered to her door - and a note promising more if she voted to acquit.
The bribe was delivered to the juror's home in on Sunday evening - just hours before the jury was due back in court to hear the final closing arguments in the trial.
Juror 52, a 23-year-old woman, was not home when the bag was dropped off but immediately notified police after family at the house showed it to her.
A juror reported that she had a sack with $120,000 in cash delivered to her door.
United States District Court Juror in fraud case given bag of $120,000 cash and promise for more for ruling to acquit 3 There was a note promising more if she voted to acquit.
United States District Court "This is completely beyond the pale," said Assistant US Attorney Joseph Thompson in court on Monday.
"This is outrageous behavior. This is stuff that happens in mob movies."
https://nypost.com/2024/06/03/us-news/juror-in-fraud-case-has-120000-bribe-delivered-to-her-door/
Fraud Trial Juror Reports Getting Bag Of $120,000 And Promise Of More If She'll Acquit
A juror was dismissed Monday after reporting that a woman dropped a bag of $120,000 in cash at her home and offered her more money if she would vote to acquit seven people charged with stealing more than $40 million from a program meant to feed children during the pandemic.
These seven are the first of 70 defendants expected to go to trial in a conspiracy that cost taxpayers $250 million.
During the trial that began in April, defense attorneys questioned the quality of the FBI's investigation and suggested that this might be more of a case of record-keeping problems than fraud as these defendants sought to keep up with rapidly changing rules for the food aid program.
Those still awaiting trial include Feeding our Future's founder Aimee Bock, who has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.
The 23-year-old juror said she immediately turned over the bag of cash to police.
Defense attorney Andrew Birrell told the judge that the bag of cash is "a troubling and upsetting accusation."
Before allowing the trial to continue with more closing arguments on Monday, U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel questioned the remaining 17 jurors and alternates, and none reported any unauthorized contact.
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