Thursday, October 06, 2011

Juror charged with soliciting bribe from defendant

This complaint is worth a read. From the government's press release:

According to the complaint filed in federal court today, Campagna was a sworn trial juror in the federal criminal case of United States v. Arturo Marrero, pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Case No. 10-60244-CR-COOKE. Campagna allegedly approached the father of the defendant outside the U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida and stated that he had information about the case. Campagna gave the father a piece of paper with a telephone number on it, but did not identify himself by name or explain that he was a juror.

The complaint further alleges that later that afternoon, the defendant’s brother called Campagna and arranged to meet with him in Miami Beach to discuss the case. At that meeting, Campagna revealed to the brother that he was a juror in the case and that some of his fellow jurors were inclined to convict. Campagna offered to persuade other jurors to vote not guilty in exchange for a payment of between $50,000 and $100,000. The brother expressed skepticism at Campagna’s claims, and added that money was tight, that he would think about Campagna’s offer, and that he would get back to him the next day.

On October 5, 2011, the brother began to cooperate with the FBI and made a recorded telephone call to Campagna to follow up on his discussions of the day before. The brother asked whether Campagna was still willing to help influence the outcome of the case, and Campagna answered yes. The brother then proposed a meeting at the same time and place to discuss money and other details. Campagna agreed. The brother stated that he had been able to get some money together but wanted to negotiate a final price.

Later that day, the brother participated in a recorded meeting with Campagna near the same Miami Beach location. Campagna reiterated that he could influence the jury and prevent a guilty verdict. The brother and Campagna then began to negotiate over price, and eventually settled on $20,000, which is the amount the brother said that he had brought with him. Campagna followed the brother to his vehicle to obtain the cash payment. The brother then handed Campagna what appeared to be a bundle of cash in a brown paper bag. At that point, Campagna was arrested.


Marrero's lawyers are Dore Louis, Marcia Silvers, and Joe Rosenbaum. Does Marrero get reprosecuted after this or do the feds say thank you and move on?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

how and why did this juror feel that the other jurors were leaning towards a guilty verdict? this "fact," if real, shows that other problems existed in this jury.

Second, juries must be kept apart from all members of the public so as to avoid these issues.

bad form on the part of the federal system.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir:

Neither the complaint nor your reporting state the entire story- the juror was homeless (no more) and likely destitute. Though he may have been an ideal juror for the gov't or the defense, he should not have been a juror at all. Broke people are for sale, this economy is making liars out of honorable men and women, paupers out of us all...A HOMELESS MAN SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED THIS AMOUNT OF POWER!

He may have accepted $100 should the family have waited until the final hour.

This is not a story you can simply brush off by an "only in miami" sigh, rather this should be a legitimate ground when objecting to a potential juror.

"Your Honor...juror number 7 is just too poor to be trusted."

marc cooper

Anonymous said...

20 grand? That's it?? Damn, we've come a long, long way since the days of Willie and Sal. Just another sign that the economy really sucks.

Anonymous said...

Ineffective assistance of counsel.

Bob Becerra said...

I think he will be re-tried, with a better plea offer beforehand.

Anonymous said...

Although they say he was homeless, this juror had a cell phone and looked clean and shaven every day. He obviously had some place to go to clean up and receive his summons. Also, remember he was trying to bribe the defendant's family so he had to say some of the jurors were ready to convict. However, I was there and at no time was that said.