SAVAGE, Minn. — FBI agents investigating the source of a $120,000 juror bribe raided a home on Hampshire Lane in Savage on Wednesday morning that was purchased by Feeding our Future trial defendant Abdiaziz Farah. The single-family home was purchased by Farah in April 2021 with money he allegedly scammed from the federal government as part of the widespread meal program fraud, according to federal prosecutors.
Hours before the jury was set to begin deliberating on Monday, news of an attempted bribe rocked the case. On Sunday night, a Somali woman left a bag with $120,000 cash at the doorstep of one of the jurors and told the family member who answered the door that there would be more money after the juror voted “not guilty,” according to a search warrant affidavit. The woman referred to the juror by her first name, which is notable because the jurors’ names are not public information. Only the lawyers and defendants had access to that information.
At the request of federal prosecutor Joe Thompson, Judge Nancy Brasel ordered law enforcement to seize the cell phones of the seven defendants in the courtroom, and all defendants were arrested at the end of closing arguments Monday. Sometime after the initial charges were filed, the government decided not to seek detention for any of the defendants – meaning they were out of custody. Some of them had never spent a night in jail before Monday.
The juror who immediately reported the bribe to police on Sunday was dismissed from the case. Judge Brasel was forced to dismiss a second juror Tuesday after telling the court she heard about the bribe when she informed family the jury would immediately be sequestered.
Neighbors on Hampshire Lane confirmed to KARE 11 News that several FBI agents went through the home and came out carrying bags.
The jury has been deliberating since 9:00 a.m. Tuesday and has to unanimously decide on 41 counts. The charges include money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy among others.
During closing arguments, Thompson referred to Farah as the “ringleader” of the group. He was a co-owner of Empire Cuisine in Shakopee which is where this segment of the alleged $250 million overall fraud originated. Farah is accused of pocketing $8 million himself and spending money on multiple cars and properties.
Farah was also charged with lying on a passport form after the FBI seized his passport in their initial raid of the Hampshire Lane home.
In his closing argument, Thompson told the jury Farah was planning to travel to Nairobi, where Farah was building a 12-story apartment building, also with stolen money.
“He knew what he was doing. He wanted to leave the country to Nairobi where he had sent a million dollars,” Thompson said.
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