A massive fraud scheme linked to Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future nonprofit has continued to expand following the sentencing of one convicted defendant to an additional decade in prison for attempting to bribe a juror.
Abdiaziz Shafii Farah pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy that involved offering $120,000 to secure an acquittal. Court documents reveal a note found on a bag of cash read: “This is for juror 52.” “Tell her there will be another bag for her if she votes to acquit.”
A woman who appeared to be Somali delivered the money bag with a family member of the juror.
The scheme was uncovered when the juror contacted federal authorities, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of seven defendants who had initially been allowed to appear on their own recognizance. That juror was dismissed from the case, while the others were questioned about potential bribery attempts. Four additional individuals were implicated in the scheme that became known in June 2024.
