FARGO — A Fargo man was convicted after a four-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court of North Dakota of conspiracy to tamper with a witness related to a murder investigation.

U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider announced the conviction of Shaquiel Anthony Mendez, 31, for his role in conspiring to tamper with a federal witness after the witness was assaulted and stabbed with a pencil in the Cass County Jail. The witness was related to the investigation into the murder of Santino Marial which occurred on Aug. 28, 2020, in Fargo.

“An attack on a witness is an attack on the rule of law,” Schneider said. “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.”

Mendez’s sentencing has been scheduled for April 21, 2025.

Daniel Saydee Cisse, 20, is currently serving an 11-year sentence for his role in the witness tampering conspiracy, and Ahmed Abdi Hassan, 21, is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty for his role in the conspiracy.

Jesse James Burnett, 31, has been indicted for murder in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and conspiracy to tamper with a witness and is scheduled for trial on April 1, 2025.