Lead prosecutor Joe Thompson provided additional details. He described the contact as “completely beyond the pale.” He said a Somali woman had arrived at the juror’s home and left a bag of cash with a promise of more to come. The juror note being home, she left the cash with the juror’s father (I think). Thompson asked that the defendants now be detained and their cell phones taken into custody. The judge ordered that the defendants’ cell phones be turned to airplane and turned over to one of the FBI agents in the courtroom pending an application for search warrants.

According to Thompson, the juror called 911 and the Spring Lake Police have taken custody of the cash — [update: the amount is $120,000]. It will be retrieved by the FBI.