Evergreen Reporter

United States Attorney Mac Schneider announced the conviction of Shaquiel Anthony Mendez, 31, for conspiracy to tamper with a witness. The trial lasted four days and was held before Chief District Court Judge Peter D. Welte in Fargo. Mendez is set to be sentenced on April 21, 2025.

Mendez's conviction relates to an incident where a federal witness was assaulted and stabbed with a pencil in Cass County jail. This case ties back to the murder investigation of Santino Marial, which took place on August 28, 2020, in Fargo.

"An attack on a witness is an attack on the rule of law," said Schneider. "This case is a reminder that anyone who conspires to use violence against a federal witness in the District of North Dakota will make themselves a federal defendant. I want to thank our career prosecutors, the trial team, and our partners in federal and local law enforcement for their work to secure a conviction and ensure justice was done in this case."

Daniel Saydee Cisse, 20, is serving an eleven-year sentence for his involvement in the conspiracy. Ahmed Abdi Hassan, 21, has pled guilty for his role and awaits sentencing on January 21, 2025.

Jesse James Burnett, also involved as per indictments for murder related to drug trafficking and conspiracy to tamper with a witness, is scheduled for trial on April 1, 2025.

The investigation involves multiple agencies including Fargo Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATFE). Prosecution efforts are led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher C. Myers, Matthew Kopp and Jacob Rodenbiker.