In a troubling turn of events during the Brooklyn drug trial of former heavyweight boxer Goran Gogic, three men were arrested Monday for allegedly attempting to bribe a juror for a cash payoff of $100,000. This led the presiding federal judge, Joan Azrack, to dismiss the jury just before opening statements were set to commence.
The federal prosecutors in Brooklyn confirmed an anonymous jury will be seated when the trial resumes after a scheduled 30-day hiatus, with a conference date set for December 17. Gogic, originally from Montenegro, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine worth millions from Colombia into Europe via U.S. ports, with his defense attorney unavailable for immediate comment.
The accused, identified as Mustafa Fteja, Valmir Krasniqi, and Afrim Kupa, allegedly approached a juror offering the substantial bribe for a not guilty verdict, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Navarro. Evidence suggests they may have accessed juror information from sources linked to the trial itself.
Subsequent court hearings have resulted in Mustafa Fteja being released on a $150,000 bond, while his co-accused remain in custody pending further hearings. Prosecutors have indicated that they recorded multiple conversations in which the accused discussed the bribery scheme, complicating their defense.
Gogic's trial, which entails serious charges including violation of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, may lead to significant prison time if he is found guilty. The jury's integrity now acts as a focal point amid concerns regarding this high-stakes case, emphasizing the lengths to which individuals may go to influence legal proceedings.
The federal prosecutors in Brooklyn confirmed an anonymous jury will be seated when the trial resumes after a scheduled 30-day hiatus, with a conference date set for December 17. Gogic, originally from Montenegro, has pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiring to smuggle cocaine worth millions from Colombia into Europe via U.S. ports, with his defense attorney unavailable for immediate comment.
The accused, identified as Mustafa Fteja, Valmir Krasniqi, and Afrim Kupa, allegedly approached a juror offering the substantial bribe for a not guilty verdict, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Navarro. Evidence suggests they may have accessed juror information from sources linked to the trial itself.
Subsequent court hearings have resulted in Mustafa Fteja being released on a $150,000 bond, while his co-accused remain in custody pending further hearings. Prosecutors have indicated that they recorded multiple conversations in which the accused discussed the bribery scheme, complicating their defense.
Gogic's trial, which entails serious charges including violation of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, may lead to significant prison time if he is found guilty. The jury's integrity now acts as a focal point amid concerns regarding this high-stakes case, emphasizing the lengths to which individuals may go to influence legal proceedings.
