MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — One of five people charged with attempting to bribe a Minnesota juror with a bag of $120,000 in cash in exchange for an acquittal in a fraud case pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday.
Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of bribery of a juror, admitting that he recruited a woman to offer the juror money as part of an elaborate scheme that officials said threatened foundational aspects of the judicial system. Four other defendants charged in the bribery scheme have pleaded not guilty.
The bribe attempt surrounded the trial of seven defendants in one of the country’s largest COVID-19-related fraud cases. The defendants were accused of coordinating to steal more than $40 million from a federal program that was supposed to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nur is one of five people who were convicted in the initial fraud case. More than $250 million in federal funds were taken overall in the scheme, and only about $50 million has been recovered, authorities say.
“I want to get on the right path,” Nur said before entering a guilty plea in the bribery case.
Court documents and prosecutors' oral reading of the plea agreement revealed an extravagant scheme in which the accused researched the juror’s personal information on social media, surveilled her, tracked her daily habits and bought a GPS device to install on her car. Authorities believe the defendants targeted the woman, known as “Juror #52,” because she was the youngest and they believed her to be the only person of color on the panel.
The four others charged with crimes related to the bribe are Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Said Shafii Farah, Abdulkarim Shafii Farah and Ladan Mohamed Ali.
According to the indictment, the bribery plan was hatched in mid-May. In court Tuesday, Nur admitted to recruiting Ali, who is accused of delivering the bribe money to the juror’s home. She flew from Seattle to Minneapolis on May 17 to meet with Nur and allegedly agreed to deliver the bribe money to the home of “Juror #52” in exchange for $150,000, prosecutors said.
She returned to Minneapolis two weeks later on May 30 and a day later attempted to follow the woman home as she left a parking ramp near the courthouse.
Ali is accused of falsely telling Nur that she had approached the juror at a bar. She claimed the juror wanted $500,000 in exchange for returning a not guilty verdict, but in reality, Ali had never spoken to the juror, prosecutors said.
On June 2, Abdiaziz Farah instructed Nur to meet at Said Farah’s business to pick up the bribe money, according to the indictment. When Nur arrived at the business, Said Farah gave him a cardboard box containing the money and told Nur to “be safe.” Nur gave the money to Ali after picking her up in a parking lot later in the day.
That night, Ali knocked on the door and was greeted by a relative of the juror. Ali handed the gift bag to her and explained there would be more money if the juror voted to acquit.
The juror called police after she got home and gave them the bag, according to an FBI affidavit. Federal authorities launched an investigation including raids of several of the defendants' homes.
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger, described the scheme as “something out of a mob movie.”
U.S. District Judge David Doty said Nur would be sentenced at a later date.
FILE - This photo supplied by the U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota shows cash from a bag that was left at the home of a juror in a massive fraud case, June 2, 2024, outside Minneapolis, Minn. One of the five people being charged with bribery pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday, July 23. (U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota via AP, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Vientos hit a pair of two-run homers, including a leadoff shot in the 10th inning that sent the New York Mets past the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Friday night for their eighth consecutive victory.
New York hasn’t trailed in 63 innings and is riding its longest winning streak since an eight-game run in August 2019. Vientos also connected in the first for the Mets, who remained tied with rival Atlanta for the last National League wild card.
“I think September's the right time to get hot,” Vientos said.
Mets closer Edwin Díaz and younger brother Alexis, the Reds' ace reliever, pitched in the same game for the first time in their All-Star careers.
Edwin Díaz struck out all three batters in the top of the ninth, fanning Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer with 100 mph fastballs. Alexis Díaz worked a hitless bottom of the ninth to keep the score tied.
“We both did good,” Edwin Díaz said, grinning. “So he can’t say anything to me, I can’t say anything to him.”
Afterward, they took photos on the field with about 20 proud family members — including their parents.
“It was a very special day,” said Alexis Díaz, with teammate Nick Martinez translating from Spanish to English. “It was an emotional moment.”
With automatic runner Brandon Nimmo on second base, Vientos drove a 2-2 fastball from Justin Wilson (1-5) clocked at 97 mph to left field for his 24th home run and second game-ending drive this season.
“I knew I was going to get an opportunity. I feel like I kind of want the opportunity in those situations and when I got it I was like, yes, let’s do this,” Vientos said. “We were confident that we were going to win that game.”
The 24-year-old third baseman tossed his bat aside and then his helmet high in the air as he approached home plate, where jubilant teammates swarmed him with glee, doused him in liquid — and ripped off his jersey.
“I don't know if I believe in magic, but I think we have the energy and the right mindset going into this month because we're hungry and we want to make it to the playoffs,” Vientos said.
Jose Buttó (7-3) pitched a perfect 10th for the win. New York's bullpen, a suspect unit much of the season, has a 0.72 ERA over 25 innings during the winning streak.
Cincinnati was coming off a three-game sweep of AL West-leading Houston and had won four in a row overall.
De La Cruz and TJ Friedl each connected for a two-run homer off Mets starter Sean Manaea that tied the game.
De La Cruz went deep in the fourth following a leadoff walk to Jonathan India. Friedl evened it 4-all with two outs in the seventh when Manaea hung a 78 mph sweeper.
That was it for Manaea, who allowed three hits and struck out nine. The left-hander, who has blossomed into New York's top starter this season, was given a warm ovation from the crowd of 25,335 as he walked off the mound.
The Mets went ahead 4-2 in the sixth on RBI singles by pinch-hitter Jose Iglesias and new dad J.D. Martinez. Pete Alonso started the two-out rally, reaching on a double when his drive squirted out of Jake Fraley's glove as the right fielder attempted to complete a tumbling catch in the corner.
“There’s never panic. We’re never out of the game. That’s the feeling,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “There’s a lot of different ways that we can create runs.”
Vientos gave the Mets a 2-0 lead nine pitches into the game when he homered off opener Fernando Cruz.
Francisco Lindor was aboard after a soft leadoff single that extended his hitting streak to 16 games, setting a career high. Lindor also pushed his on-base streak to 34 games, another career best and the longest active run in the majors.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mets: 2B Jeff McNeil was removed for a pinch hitter in the sixth, one inning after getting hit by a 74 mph curveball. McNeil appeared to get plunked on his protective padding, but the team announced he exited with a bruised right wrist and will undergo testing Saturday. ... RHP Kodai Senga (strained left calf) will throw another bullpen Saturday. Senga threw 25 pitches in his first bullpen session Wednesday and hopes to return from the 60-day injured list when eligible Sept. 25. … Martinez was back in the lineup at DH after being reinstated from the paternity list on the off day Thursday. He missed a three-game sweep of Boston from Monday to Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Mets LHP Jose Quintana (7-9, 4.27 ERA) starts Saturday against RHP Jakob Junis (4-0, 3.13) in the middle game of the series.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Williamson pitches during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Jose Iglesias hits a run-scoring single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell reaches for the ball from pitcher Brandon Williamson during a pitching change in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Jose Iglesias (11) reacts behind Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India (6) after hitting a run scoring single and then advancing to second base during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Pete Alonso, center, scores a run past Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl reacts with Spencer Steer (7) after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea reacts after being taken out during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets pitcher Jose Butto reacts during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos (27) rounds the bases past Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos is congratulated by teammates after hitting a two-run walk-off home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. The Mets won 6-4. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos reacts after hitting a two-run walkoff home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Mets' Mark Vientos hits a two-run walkoff home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
