Afrim Kupa pleaded guilty on May 5 before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo in Brooklyn federal court to obstruction of justice for attempting to bribe a juror during a criminal trial in the Eastern District of New York. Kupa is the last of three defendants, following earlier guilty pleas by Mustafa Fteja and Valmir Krasniqi, related to an effort to influence the outcome of United States v. Goran Gogic by offering up to $100,000 for a not-guilty vote.
The case highlights concerns about interference with the judicial process and its potential impact on public trust. All three defendants now face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. and FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C. Barnacle, Jr. announced the guilty pleas. “Any attempt to interfere with the integrity of our justice system will be met with swift and serious consequences,” said Nocella. “These defendants admitted they obstructed a federal criminal trial in Brooklyn by attempting to bribe a juror, which strikes at the very heart of the rule of law. Our Office is committed to protecting the judicial process and ensuring that those who try to corrupt it are held fully accountable.” Nocella also thanked Homeland Security Investigations for their work on the case.
Barnacle said, “The defendants’ attempt to influence the outcome of a criminal trial threatened the integrity of our country’s justice system. May today’s plea highlight the FBI’s commitment to holding accountable any individual who tries to interfere with our judicial proceedings.”
According to court documents, between November 13 and November 17, 2025, Kupa, Krasniqi, and Fteja attempted multiple times—through meetings arranged in Staten Island—to offer Juror-1 up to $100,000 cash for voting not guilty at Gogic's drug trafficking trial before Judge Joan M. Azrack. The scheme was uncovered after meetings where payment details were discussed; arrests followed on November 17 when authorities found identifying information about Juror-1 at Kupa's home and digital evidence at Krasniqi's residence.
Gogic faces charges related to conspiracy and violations under maritime drug laws stemming from alleged coordination between May 2018 and July 2019 involving large cocaine shipments through commercial cargo ships from Colombia into Europe via U.S ports; if convicted he faces life imprisonment.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau County, and Suffolk County; it prosecutes federal crimes including obstruction cases like this one while supporting community outreach efforts according to its official website.
Assistant United States Attorneys Emily J. Dean, Tanya Hajjar, and Stephen Petraeus are handling prosecution duties as part of their office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.
