Said Farah, 43, has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a scheme to bribe a juror during the Feeding Our Future fraud trial, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
The case centers on events that unfolded during the trial of seven defendants before U.S. District Judge David S. Doty on April 22, 2024. Said Farah and his brother, Abdiaziz Farah, were among those on trial for their roles in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme. During the proceedings, Said Farah conspired with others—including Abdiaziz Farah and another brother not charged in this case, Abdulkarim Farah—to offer cash to Juror 52 in exchange for a not guilty verdict.
Five individuals have been charged in connection with the juror bribery plot; all have now pleaded guilty and await sentencing before Judge Doty. Sentencing dates have not yet been set.
“I watched this unfold with my own eyes—it was corruption stacked on corruption,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “The Feeding Our Future scheme was already a staggering and brazen fraud. But then came something even more corrosive: a cynical attempt to buy off a juror who stood strong and refused to be corrupted. I cannot overstate how painful this was for all involved. This was an unprecedented attack on our very system of justice. It shook Minnesota to its core. Now we must grapple with how we got here—no more denial, no more looking away. We must not allow corruption and fraud to define the future of justice in Minnesota.”
Court documents show that co-conspirators Abdimajid Nur and Abdiaziz Farah used online research and social media to find Juror 52’s address and personal information, including through Facebook.
Nur then recruited Ladan Ali, who lived in Seattle at the time, to deliver the bribe money in exchange for $150,000 cash payment. Ali traveled from Seattle to Minneapolis during the trial to meet Nur and discuss details of delivering cash to Juror 52.
On May 30, 2024, Ali arrived in Minneapolis as planned and was instructed by Nur to follow Juror 52 home after court proceedings using provided photos and maps.
The following day, Ali attempted but failed to follow Juror 52 home after court adjourned at the Jerry Haaf Parking Ramp.
Ali later falsely claimed she had met Juror 52 at a bar and that Juror 52 agreed to accept $500,000 for a not guilty verdict; however, no such meeting or agreement took place.
Believing Ali’s account was true, Nur informed Abdiaziz Farah about it; he then contacted Said Farah late on June 1 about gathering funds for the bribe.
On June 2, Said Farah collected part of $200,000 intended as bribe money from various sources including individuals and a Hawala near Karmel Mall.
That afternoon outside Bushra Wholesalers—Said Farah’s business—he and Abdiaziz Farah handed over $200,000 in cash inside a cardboard box to Nur.
Nur subsequently gave the box containing cash to Ali at a Bloomington parking lot; she transferred it into Hallmark gift bags as instructed before meeting Abdulkarim Farah near Juror 52’s residence so he could record her delivering the money as proof of delivery.
Later that night Said Farah received video footage via encrypted messaging app showing delivery of what conspirators believed was successful bribery; he deleted it afterward attempting concealment of his role.
“The attempted bribery of a juror is a shocking attack on the fabric of our legal system,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., FBI Minneapolis. “In this country, justice is impartial, swift, and cannot be bought. The extraordinary work on this case attests to the commitment of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the judicial process and relentlessly pursue those who seek to corrupt that system.”
The investigation involved cooperation between multiple agencies: FBI led efforts with support from IRS – Criminal Investigations division as well as assistance from U.S Postal Inspection Service and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Acting United States Attorney Joseph H. Thompson along with Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew Ebert, Harry Jacobs, and Daniel Bobier are prosecuting this case.
