Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Juror Bribery

A Minneapolis man was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison on Wednesday for his role in a brazen attempt to bribe a juror during the first trial related to the massive Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. Abdulkarim Shafii Farah, 25, received 57 months behind bars, followed by one year of supervised release, after pleading guilty to one count of bribery of a juror.

The sentencing took place in U.S. District Court in St. Paul before Judge Eric C. Tostrud, who imposed the maximum term within federal guidelines. Farah's actions centered on a conspiracy to influence the outcome of a trial that began on April 22, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel in Minneapolis. Seven defendants, including two of Farah's brothers, Abdiaziz Shafii Farah and Said Shafii Farah, faced charges stemming from the Feeding Our Future case, a sprawling investigation into the theft of over $250 million in federal COVID-19 funds intended for child nutrition programs.

Prosecutors detailed how Farah, along with his brothers, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, and Ladan Mohamed Ali, targeted Juror 52, identified in court documents as the youngest member of the panel and the only juror of color. The group...