MINNEAPOLIS — A key witness in a high-stakes trial involving the alleged theft of millions from a federal nutrition program for needy children was reportedly approached and potentially influenced just outside the courtroom, officials said. This incident occurred on Tuesday as the trial of former executive director of Feeding our Future, Aimee Bock, and Salim Said, former owner of Safari Restaurant, progresses.
Sharmarke Jama, a cooperating defendant who pleaded guilty earlier in the month to charges of wire fraud and money laundering, was prepared to testify against Bock and Said, revealing details of how he fraudulently claimed $4.3 million by reporting fictitious meals served to children in need. Jama’s involvement was pivotal in outlining the extent of the alleged $250 million meal fraud scheme operated through the Federal Child Nutrition program.
On the day before Jama was scheduled to testify, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson informed U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel that attempts were made to improperly influence Jama’s forthcoming testimony. Reportedly, another defendant implicated in the case invited Jama for a private conversation in the restroom — an invitation promptly declined but indicative of possible witness tampering.
In light of these events, Judge Brasel highlighted the importance of this testimony, stating that such conducts further support the ongoing conspiracy allegations surrounding the case. This issue of tampering is not unfamiliar to the courtroom, with previous allegations of jury tampering involving substantial amounts of money surfacing in earlier trials linked to the same scheme.
Defense attorneys unsuccessfully argued against the inclusion of these alleged tampering incidents in the current trial, stating such information could unfairly prejudice the jury against Bock and Said. However, Judge Brasel ruled that these events were intricately linked to the central fraud allegations and thus relevant to the case.
Said’s defense presented that he couldn’t have orchestrated such a conversation with co-defendants as his cellphone was left at his attorney’s office. However, concerns persist, fueled by the overt presence of the Abshir brothers, also charged in the scheme but out on bail, who made a conspicuous entry into the courtroom soon after the alleged tampering took place.
The trial continues to uncover the layers of the alleged scheme where false claims to the Federal Child Nutrition program have led to charges against multiple individuals, highlighting organized attempts to defraud government programs designed to aid underserved populations.
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