Big-Decision! FBI Conducts Raid at Feeding Our Future Defendant’s Residence During Juror Bribe Probe

SAVAGE, Minnesota —

On Wednesday morning, FBI officials looking into the source of a $120,000 bribe paid to a juror raided a Savage property on Hampshire Lane that Feeding our Future trial defendant Abdiaziz Farah had acquired.

Federal prosecutors claim that Farah used money he allegedly stole from the federal government as part of the massive meal program fraud to buy the single-family property in April 2021.

News of an attempted bribe shook the case hours before the jury was scheduled to start deliberations on Monday.

A search warrant document states that on Sunday night, a Somali woman dropped a bag containing $120,000 cash at the doorstep of a juror. She also informed the family member answering the door that more money would be given if the juror voted “not guilty.” It is noteworthy that the woman addressed the juror by her first name as the names of the jurors are kept confidential. That information was only available to the defendants and their attorneys.

Judge Nancy Brasel ordered law enforcement to grab the seven defendants’ cell phones in the courtroom at the request of federal prosecutor Joe Thompson. All defendants were taken into custody at the conclusion of Monday’s final remarks.

The government opted not to request detention for any of the defendants at some point after the original charges were made, thus they were no longer in custody. Prior to Monday, a few of them had never spent a night in jail.

The jury was removed from the case on Sunday after reporting the bribe to police right away. Tuesday, Judge Brasel was obliged to remove a second juror after informing the family that the jury would be immediately sequestered after learning about the bribe.

Several FBI officers walked through the house and emerged with bags, neighbors on Hampshire Lane verified to KARE 11 News.

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The jury must reach a unanimous decision on 41 counts during its ninety-nine-hour deliberation on Tuesday. Among the other accusations are conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering.

Thompson referred to Farah as the group’s “ringleader” during the final arguments. He was a co-owner of the Shakopee restaurant Empire Cuisine, where the claimed $250 million total scam started. Farah is charged with taking $8 million for himself and using it to buy several vehicles and homes.

After the FBI confiscated Farah’s passport during their original raid on the Hampshire Lane residence, he was additionally charged with lying on a passport form.

Thompson informed the jury during his closing argument that Farah intended to go to Nairobi, where he was using stolen funds to construct a 12-story apartment complex.

“He was proficient in his work. Thompson stated, “He had wired a million dollars to Nairobi, where he hoped to escape the nation.