Two individuals indicted for attempting to bribe a juror in Goran Gogic’s drug trafficking trial in New York City.

Two of the three men charged with attempting to bribe a juror in the federal cocaine trafficking trial of former heavyweight boxer Goran Gogic have been indicted by a federal grand jury. Afrim Kupa, who possesses a criminal background and purported ties to Balkan organized crime as well as the Gambino crime family, along with Valmir Krasniqi, face charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. This indictment was issued on Thursday, marking a serious escalation in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding this case.

A third individual, Mustafa Fjeta, who was arrested alongside Kupa and Krasniqi in connection with the bribery scheme, has not been indicted. Details regarding his case have not been disclosed, and inquiries to both the U.S. Attorney’s office and Fjeta’s attorney have not yielded any immediate responses.

The juror tampering incident, which first gained attention in media reports, disrupted Gogic’s trial just as it was set to commence on November 17. Prosecutors revealed that one of the accused allegedly offered a juror 0,000 to facilitate an acquittal for Gogic, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the judicial process. Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Navarro indicated that the individuals involved may have obtained sensitive jury information from sources connected to the trial. Following these allegations, Judge Joan Azrack made the decision to dismiss the original jury, a pivotal move reflecting the seriousness of the tampering claims.

As of now, Gogic remains incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, with a court date scheduled for December 17. The U.S. Attorney’s office has emphasized that the indictment serves as a deterrent to any attempts to corrupt the judicial process, underscoring the importance of maintaining integrity within the legal system.

The alleged bribery scheme unfolded rapidly during a weekend, with Fjeta reportedly calling a juror multiple times and convincing him to meet on Staten Island. During their meeting, he proposed a “favor” involving a not-guilty verdict, stating he was acting on the direction of Krasniqi and others. Subsequent communications revealed that Fjeta had suggested amounts between ,000 and 0,000 as payment, drawing the attention of federal investigators who had been monitoring their activities.

Kupa and Krasniqi were ordered held without bail following their arrest, while Fjeta was released on a 0,000 bond. Gogic’s charges involve his prominent role in a significant drug trafficking organization, which connected suppliers in Colombia with cargo ship crews and distributors in Europe and the United States.

Notably, authorities seized over 1,400 kilograms of cocaine at the Port of New York and New Jersey, 500 kilograms at the Port of Philadelphia, and nearly 18,000 kilograms also at the Port of Philadelphia in what has been described as one of the largest drug seizures in U.S. history, collectively valued at over billion.

In a bid to defend his client, attorney Mathew Mari asserted Krasniqi’s innocence, claiming that he only facilitated an introduction and was unaware of any bribery plan. Mari stated that if his client had known of the illicit intentions, he would not have participated in arranging communications between Fjeta and another party.

This ongoing case continues to unravel, drawing significant attention to the issues of jury integrity and corruption in the U.S. legal system. The actions taken against Kupa and Krasniqi reflect a broader commitment to ensuring that attempts to undermine justice are met with grave consequences.