Two Tallahassee residents are facing heavy prison time after authorities say they tried to bribe a juror with $10,000 to flip the verdict in a major drug trafficking trial.
According to Attorney General James Uthmeier, 40-year-old Brad Gathers and 24-year-old Tanaya Harris were charged for their roles in the bribery scheme, which targeted a trial that ended in November 2025 with guilty convictions for both defendants.
Investigators revealed that Gathers was a close associate of the two defendants in that drug trial, Delmetrice Rogers and Lasonya Savage. While the courtroom proceedings were actively underway, Gathers discovered that Harris—who was his girlfriend at the time—had grown up with one of the seated jurors.
The state alleges that Harris and Gathers used that childhood connection to reach out to the juror, offering her $10,000 in cash to sway the outcome of the trial in favor of the defense.
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Instead of taking the money, the juror immediately turned down the offer and reported the encounter to court officials. She was quickly removed from the panel and replaced by an alternate juror, allowing the trial to proceed to its guilty verdicts.
“Anyone who tries to undermine our justice system will find themselves behind bars,” Attorney General Uthmeier said in a statement. “Attempting to bribe a juror is beyond contempt, and I commend the juror in this case for upholding the law by immediately reporting this incident to the Court.”
The legal fallout for the duo is severe. Gathers is charged with Tampering with a Court Official and Conspiracy to Tamper with a Court Official. Judge Everett granted a pretrial detention motion filed by the Office of Statewide Prosecution, meaning Gathers will remain locked up without bond while he awaits trial.
Harris is charged with Conspiracy to Tamper with a Court Official.
The statutory penalties carry major stakes. If convicted on all charges, Gathers faces a maximum penalty of life in the Florida Department of Corrections. Harris faces up to 15 years in state prison.
The case is headed to court in the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida, where it will be handled by Senior Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Guillermo Vallejo.
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