A juror was dismissed Monday after reporting that a woman dropped a bag of $120,000 in cash at her home and offered her more money if she would vote to acquit seven people charged with stealing more than $40 million from a program meant to feed children during the pandemic.
“This is completely beyond the pale,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said in court on Monday. “This is outrageous behavior. This is stuff that happens in mob movies.”
These seven are the first of 70 defendants expected to go to trial in a conspiracy that cost taxpayers $250 million. Eighteen others have pleaded guilty, and authorities said they recovered about $50 million in one of the nation’s largest pandemic-related fraud cases. Prosecutors say just a fraction of the money went to feed low-income kids, while the rest was spent on luxury cars, jewelry, travel and property.
During the trial that began in April, defense attorneys questioned the quality of the FBI’s investigation and suggested that this might be more of a case of record-keeping problems than fraud as these defendants sought to keep up with rapidly changing rules for the food aid program.
Not sure why they dismissed the juror. She was probably the only honest one who reported it. Give her a pat on the back and let her stay on, then grill the other jurors.
She just moved from juror to witness.
Dropped it off at her home, meaning the situation could plausibly go from bribery to extortion/threats
It’s because the juror is now a target for extortion/threats/etc… She’s vulnerable.
Also, the fact that they gave this money can prejudice her into making a judgment not based on the facts of the case itself.
It’s best if she’s moved off the jury and becomes a witness instead. It ensures a fair trial.