MINNEAPOLIS — A second juror from the panel selected to hear the case against seven defendants in the Feeding Our Future trial has been dismissed as deliberations begin in the complex and layered case.
When proceedings convened Tuesday morning, U.S. District Court Judge Nancy Brasel told the court that a juror, identified only as Juror 22, called her family Monday night to tell them she was being sequestered after it was revealed a fellow juror had allegedly been the target of a bribe scheme. The person on the phone asked her "Was it because of the bribe?"
KARE 11's Lou Raguse, who has covered the case extensively, reports that Juror 22 immediately called the federal court liaison to let her know what had happened, and the decision was made to excuse the juror. An alternate panel member who had been released from duty Monday evening was called back to deliberate the case.
The dismissal follows developments Monday when a different juror was released from duty after reporting that someone left a bag with $120,000 inside at her home, promising more if she would vote to acquit all seven defendants. The 23-year-old juror was not home when the money was given to one of her relatives. When she returned home and was told about what happened the former juror called 911 immediately.
After learning about the alleged bribe Judge Brasel ordered the jury sequestered, and all seven defendants taken into custody.
The seven are the first of 70 defendants expected to go to trial in a conspiracy that cost taxpayers $250 million. They are affiliated with a South Metro grocery and restaurant that participated in the food aid program.
Eighteen others have already pleaded guilty, and authorities said they recovered about $50 million in one of the nation's largest pandemic-related fraud cases. Prosecutors say just a fraction of the money went to feed low-income kids, while the rest was spent on luxury cars, jewelry, travel and property.
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.
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