A Minneapolis man was sentenced on Wednesday to nearly five years in prison for his role in attempting to bribe a juror during the high-profile federal trial tied to the Feeding Our Future pandemic fraud scheme.
Abdulkarim Farah, 25, was sentenced to 57 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Minnesota.
Federal prosecutors said Farah helped coordinate and carry out a plan to deliver a cash bribe to a juror in hopes of securing ‘not guilty’ verdicts for defendants in the first trial connected to the sprawling fraud investigation.
The sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Eric Tostrud, who imposed the high end of the federal sentencing guidelines range. Tostrud stated that “properly functioning juries are the core of our criminal justice system” and added that the federal judiciary has a duty to protect the public’s right to fair and impartial juries.
The bribery attempt occurred during a 2024 trial before U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel involving seven defendants accused of participating in the Feed Our Future fraud scheme. Two of the defendants on trial were Farah’s brothers.
Prosecutors said Farah conspired with his brothers and others to target a member of the jury identified as “Juror 52.” According to Farah’s plea agreement, he conducted surveillance of the juror and the juror’s home and sent co-conspirators a map showing where the juror had parked during jury service.
Farah also helped coordinate the delivery of the bribe. Prosecutors said a co-defendant, Ladan Ali, was recruited to deliver a gift bag filled with cash in exchange for a not-guilty vote.
The juror reported the incident, allowing the trial to continue.
Farah’s sentencing comes as Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison testified in a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing.
FIVE TAKEAWAYS FROM MINNESOTA FRAUD HEARING WHERE WALZ ACKNOWLEDGED FAILURES
The hearing focused on a report that was released by House Republicans alleging the state’s Democratic leaders were aware of welfare fraud and failed to act, as well as several scandals, including the $250 million Feeding Our Future child nutrition fraud case and alleged abuse across Medicaid, autism services, child care assistance, and housing programs.
During the hearing, Walz acknowledged the extensive welfare fraud in the state but called fraud rings a “moving target.”
