MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A third defendant pleaded guilty Wednesday for his role in an attempt to bribe a juror with a bag of $120,000 in cash in exchange for acquittals in a massive COVID-19-related fraud case in Minnesota.
Abdulkarim Shafii Farah pleaded guilty to one count of bribery of a juror. He was the third of five defendants to admit to federal charges arising from the bribery case, which broke last year during the first trial of people charged in the Feeding Our Future scandal. Two of the seven defendants in that trial were Farah's brothers.
According to prosecutors, after Farah's codefendants decided to target one juror with a bribe attempt, Farah conducted surveillance of the juror and her house. He also drove a Seattle woman to the juror's house and recorded a video of her delivering the bag of cash to a relative of the juror because they didn't fully trust their accomplice. But the juror went straight to police after she got home later.
Prosecutors have alleged that the defendants targeted “Juror 52” because she was the youngest and they believed her to be the only person of color on the panel.
The Seattle woman, Ladan Mohamed Ali, pleaded guilty last September. The man who recruited her, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, pleaded guilty last July.
Farah, Ali and Nur are all awaiting sentencing. Cases against the two others charged in the bribery case are pending. Although the charge against Farah carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, the prosecution and defense agreed under the plea deal that the nonbinding federal sentencing guidelines recommend 46 to 57 months in prison.
Seventy people were charged and 45 have already been convicted in the larger fraud case, which centered on a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future. Prosecutors allege the participants stole $250 million from a federal program that was meant to feed children during the pandemic. The alleged ringleader, Aimee Bock, was convicted on all counts in her trial last month. Bock's trial drew national attention partly because of an attempt to tamper with a witness that was foiled.
Lisa Kirkpatrick, the acting U.S. attorney for Minnesota — who has called Feeding Our Future the largest fraud scheme against COVID-19 relief programs anywhere in the country — said in a statement Wednesday that the bribe attempt was “a shameful chapter in Minnesota history."
"I am grateful for Juror 52, who is the true hero of this story. Juror 52 — who could not be corrupted and immediately alerted law enforcement — represents the best of Minnesota,” Kirkpatrick said.
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. (U.S. Attorney's Office for Minnesota via AP, File)
CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic (AP) — Canada launched its title defense at the women’s hockey world championships by cruising past Finland 5-0 on Thursday.
Jennifer Gardiner scored twice and added an assist, Ella Shelton had a goal and an assist while captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Emma Maltais also scored a goal apiece in the Group A game.
Canada goaltender Kristen Campbell made 24 saves for the shutout.
Seeking its 14th title, Gardiner opened the scoring 6:02 into the first period from the left circle and Canada kept steadily increasing its lead. It was already 4-0 up when Gardiner claimed her second 18 seconds into the second period from a tight angel, forcing Finland to pull goaltender Emilia Kyrkko.
“You couldn’t have told me this would happen in my wildest dreams,” said Gardiner about her tournament debut.
Still in the opening period, Shelton wristed a shot into the roof of the net and Poulin was fed by Gardiner with a pass from behind the goal to make it 3-0.
It was the second straight defeat for Finland, last year’s bronze medalist, after a 7-1 loss to the United States on Wednesday, a sign of the gap between the two favorites for the championships and the rest of the field.
Canada next plays Switzerland on Friday.
Earlier, Sweden fought hard to overcome newcomer Hungary 2-0 for a second win at the tournament.
Linnea Johansson broke the deadlock late in the middle period and had an assist for the second goal netted by Lina Ljungblom in the third period when the Hungarians outshot the Swedes 11-6.
Sweden goaltender Emma Soderberg stopped 24 shots.
Earlier, Japan beat another newly-promoted team, Norway, 5-2.
Mei Miura had a goal and an assist and Akane Hosoyamada, Rui Ukita, Riri Noro and Akane Shiga also scored for Japan in another Group B game.
Andrea Dalen and Marthe Brunvold had a goal each for Norway to mark its return to the top division after a 27-year absence.
The 12-day, 10-nation tournament in the southern Czech city of Ceske Budejovice represents the final major international tune-up before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
Sweden players celebrate a win over Hungary in a Group B match at the women's ice hockey world championships, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. (Lubos Pavlicek/CTK via AP)
Sweden's, from left, Hilda Svensson, Linnea Johansson and Lina Ljungblom celebrate a goal past Hungary's goalkeeper Anikó Németh during a Group B match at the women's ice hockey world championships, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. (Lubos Pavlicek/CTK via AP)
Finland goalkeeper Emilia Kyrkkö and Canada's Natalie Spooner battle for the puck during a Group A match at the women's ice hockey world championships, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. (Vaclav Pancer/CTK via AP)
Canada's Emily Clark (26) reacts after a her team scored their second goal against Finland during a Group A match at the women's ice hockey world championships, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic. (Vaclav Pancer/CTK via AP)
From left, Ida Haave of Norway, Kohane Sato of Japan, goalkeeper Miyuu Masuhara of Japan and Aoi Shiga of Japan in action during the ice hockey IIHF Women's World Championship Group B match Japan vs Norway, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Vaclav Pancer/CTK via AP)
Andrea Dalen of Norway, center, celebrates her goal during the ice hockey IIHF Women's World Championship Group B match Japan vs Norway, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Vaclav Pancer/CTK via AP)
From left, Japan's Kohane Sato, Akane Shiga, Rui Ukita and Aoi Shiga celebrate a goal during the ice hockey IIHF Women's World Championship Group B match Japan vs Norway, in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (Vaclav Pancer/CTK via AP)
