Two Staten Island Men Indicted for Attempting to Bribe a Juror in a Criminal Trial in the Eastern District of New York

An indictment was returned yesterday charging Valmir Krasniqi and Afrim Kupa with obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice for attempting to bribe a juror (Juror-1) to vote not guilty in a criminal trial in the Eastern District of New York. As alleged in the indictment, in mid-November 2025, the defendants offered to pay a juror serving on the criminal trial of United States v. Goran Gogic, 22-CR-493 (JMA), up to $100,000 in exchange for the juror's not guilty vote at the close of trial.

On November 17, 2025, Krasniqi and Kupa were arrested and charged by complaint. Both defendants were detained pending trial.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the indictment.

"The indictment sends a clear message to the public that jury tampering and other efforts to undermine and corrupt the criminal justice system will not be tolerated," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "As alleged, these defendants obstructed a federal criminal trial in Brooklyn by attempting to bribe a juror. Our Office acted swiftly and vigorously to prosecute those involved in efforts to obstruct justice."

Mr. Nocella extended his appreciation to Homeland Security Investigations, New York, for their work on the Gogic case.

"Valmir Krasniqi and Afrim Kupa allegedly conspired to provide a significant cash bribe to potentially alter a juror's vote related to a separate impending federal criminal trial. These defendants' alleged attempt sought to influence a core principle of our criminal justice system and deprive the defendant his right to a fair trial. The FBI will never permit any individual to tip the scales in any proceedings and undermine our country's democratic practices," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.

The Gogic Trial

As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, the trial of Goran Gogic was set to commence before the United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack on November 17, 2025.

Gogic is charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and three counts of violating the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act. As alleged, between May 2018 and July 2019, Gogic conspired with others to distribute massive quantities of cocaine via commercial cargo ships. Gogic coordinated with the sources of the cocaine in Colombia, the crewmembers who transported tons of cocaine on commercial cargo ships on the high seas, and the network of port workers who transported and offloaded the cocaine in Europe via the United States. United States law enforcement seized three of these shipments, totaling nearly 20,000 kilograms of cocaine. If convicted, Gogic faces up to life in prison.

The Juror Tampering Scheme

On November 3, 2025 and November 5, 2025, a jury was selected in Gogic's criminal trial. Juror-1 was selected to serve as a juror at trial. Between November 13, 2025 and November 17, 2025, Krasniqi and Kupa, along with a coconspirator (CC-1), allegedly attempted to bribe Juror-1 with a cash payment in exchange for Juror-1 agreeing to vote not guilty at Gogic's trial.

As alleged in the indictment and other court documents, on November 13, 2025, Krasniqi arranged a meeting between Kupa and CC-1 in Staten Island, New York. At the meeting, Kupa explained to CC-1 that he and other coconspirators wanted CC-1 to offer Juror-1 money to vote not guilty at trial. In a meeting on November 15, 2025, CC-1 informed Juror-1 that he/she would be paid up to $100,000 to vote not guilty at trial.

On November 16, 2025, Kupa, Krasniqi and CC-1 met at Krasniqi's home in Staten Island. There, the three discussed the plan to pay Juror-1 to vote not guilty at Gogic's trial. During the meeting, Kupa indicated that Juror-1 would receive $100,000 in cash as payment.

On November 17, 2025, Kupa and Krasniqi were arrested at their homes in Staten Island. At that time, Kupa was in possession of a document containing Juror-1's name, home address, and place of employment. Krasniqi was in possession of a digital photograph of Juror-1 that he had sent via text message to CC-1 in furtherance of the criminal scheme.

The charges announced today are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorney Emily J. Dean is in charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialists Erin Payne and Jack Schneider

The Defendants:

VALMIR KRASNIQI
Age: 35
Staten Island, New York

AFRIM KUPA
Age: 52
Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-385