A high-stakes drug-trafficking trial in Brooklyn came to an abrupt halt when three men allegedly attempted to bribe a juror with up to $100,000 to secure an acquittal for the defendant—a former heavyweight boxer now facing charges of orchestrating the shipment of massive cocaine loads. The scheme came to light just as the trial was set to begin, prompting the judge to dismiss the original jury and order the selection of a new anonymous panel in the coming weeks.
Bribery Plot Uncovered Before Opening Statements
Federal authorities allege that three defendants approached a juror and offered cash payments ranging from $50,000 to $100,000 in exchange for a verdict of not guilty.
The scheme reportedly involved recorded conversations in both English and Albanian, raising concerns that juror identities or lists may have been accessed by outside parties connected to the case.
In light of the allegations, the presiding judge dismissed the jury and delayed the trial, ordering the empaneling of a partially sequestered and anonymous jury to ensure integrity.
Defendant’s Trafficking Allegations and Consequences
The defendant, originally a professional boxer from Montenegro, is accused of leading a sophisticated drug-trafficking network that allegedly used commercial cargo vessels, speedboats and U.S. ports to move roughly 18–20 metric tons of cocaine from Colombia to Europe.
Among the seizures cited by prosecutors was one cargo ship carrying nearly 17,956 kg of cocaine — a haul valued at over $1 billion and among the largest in U.S. history.
If convicted under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act, the defendant faces a sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
Next Steps: New Jury and Renewed Trial
With the original jury dismissed, the trial has been put on pause for at least 30 days while a new anonymous jury is selected.
Meanwhile, the three men accused of attempting to bribe the juror—named in court filings—have been arraigned. One was released on bond, while the other two remain in custody pending further proceedings.
Prosecutors indicate the investigation may uncover additional conspirators who helped orchestrate the plot.
