Three Staten Island Men Plead Guilty for Attempting to Bribe a Juror in a Criminal Trial in the Eastern District of New York

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Afrim Kupa pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Peggy Kuo to obstruction of justice for attempting to bribe a juror (Juror-1) to vote not guilty in a criminal trial in the Eastern District of New York. Kupa is the last of three defendants to plead guilty to this crime, following the guilty pleas of Mustafa Fteja and Valmir Krasniqi on February 19, 2026 and March 4, 2026, respectively. 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. When sentenced, Kupa, Krasniqi and Fteja each face up to 20 years' imprisonment.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James C. Barnacle, Jr., Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty pleas.

"Any attempt to interfere with the integrity of our justice system will be met with swift and serious consequences," stated United States Attorney Nocella. "These defendants admitted they obstructed a federal criminal trial in Brooklyn by attempting to bribe a juror, which strikes at the very heart of the rule of law. Our Office is committed to protecting the judicial process and ensuring that those who try to corrupt it are held fully accountable."

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

"The defendants' attempt to influence the outcome of a criminal trial threatened the integrity of our country's justice system. May today's plea highlight the FBI's commitment to holding accountable any individual who tries to interfere with our judicial proceedings," stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Barnacle.

The Gogic Trial

As alleged in the indictment and set forth in 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, Kupa, Krasniqi, and Fteja attempted to bribe Juror-1 with a cash payment in exchange for Juror-1 agreeing to vote not guilty at Gogic's trial.

On November 13, 2025, Krasniqi arranged a meeting between Kupa and Fteja in Staten Island, New York. At the meeting, Kupa explained to Fteja that he and other coconspirators wanted Fteja to offer Juror-1 money to vote not guilty at trial. In a meeting on November 15, 2025, Fteja 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 Fteja 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 Fteja in furtherance of the criminal scheme.

The government's case is being handled by the Office's Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily J. Dean, Tanya Hajjar, and Stephen Petraeus are in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendants:

VALMIR KRASNIQI
Age: 35
Staten Island, New York

AFRIM KUPA
Age: 53
Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-385 (JMA)

MUSTAFA FTEJA
Age: 54
Staten Island, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 26-CR-23 (JMA)