Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson revealed in court that a woman had arrived at the juror's home and left a bag containing $120,000 in cash. The woman allegedly offered to deliver another bag of cash if the juror would vote to acquit the seven defendants in the fraud case.

Describing the incident as "completely beyond the pale," Thompson compared the attempted bribery to scenes from mob movies. The 23-year-old juror was not at home when the incident occurred, but the bag of cash was discovered by her father-in-law, who promptly reported the incident to Spring Lake Park police. The juror handed over the money to the authorities, who are currently investigating the matter.

The ongoing high-profile trial, which has entered its seventh week, is part of a larger case described by prosecutors as one of the largest pandemic fraud schemes in the country. The defendants are accused of embezzling over $250 million in federal funds intended to provide meals to disadvantaged children. The trial has showcased numerous exhibits and heard testimony from more than 30 witnesses.

In light of the attempted bribery, U.S. District Judge Nancy Brasel decided to sequester the jury, comprised of 12 jurors and five alternates, in order to ensure a fair trial. She extensively questioned the remaining 17 jurors to ensure they had not been contacted about the case during the past six weeks.

The defendants in the trial, Shafii Farah, Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Mohamed Jama Ismail, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin, Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, and Hayat Mohamed Nur, have been charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and other related offenses. They are part of a group of 70 individuals involved in a broader fraud scheme that allegedly misused federal funds designated for feeding low-income children. The defendants have been accused of running a fraudulent operation involving shell companies, inflated meal claims, and kickbacks.

Defense attorneys have tried to cast doubt on the FBI investigation, arguing that key locations were not thoroughly searched. They placed blame on the heads of the nonprofit organizations involved and the oversight by the Minnesota Department of Education. The defense has also argued that the alleged kickbacks were merely proper payments within the East African business culture.

While the prosecution presented its closing arguments last week, three of the defense teams provided their closing statements on Monday. The remaining team will present their arguments later in the afternoon before the jury begins deliberations. The trial has been marked by unexpected developments, including six of the seven defense attorneys resting their cases without calling any witnesses.

As the investigation into the attempted cash bribe continues, the dismissal of the juror serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes and complexities of the Feeding Our Future trial. The court will now carefully consider the evidence presented before reaching a verdict in this landmark case.