Mississippi mayor and other officials indicted on federal corruption charges

Jackson, Mississippi, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and other city officials pleaded not guilty Thursday to a series of federal corruption charges.

The group of accused officials, including Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and District 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, are accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for favors and favorable votes. According to USA Today.

Another city council member was charged in the case along with a co-conspirator earlier this year and pleaded guilty. City council member Angelique Lee admitted to accepting approximately $20,000 in “cash, deposits and other gifts.” Conspirator Sherik Marve’ Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.

Owens currently faces eight felony charges, the most of the bunch. Lumumba faces five charges and Banks faces two. Accusations range from bribery to racketeering.

The indictment details that Owens provided $80,000 in bribes to Lumumba and Lee in exchange for official action on a hotel development project.

Owens also allegedly accepted $115,000 from undercover FBI agents posing as developers from Nashville.

“Owens, Banks, Lumumba, Lee, and Smith were unaware that the Developers were actually working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the indictment states.

Owens and Lumumba denied the bribery allegations, and the mayor claimed the case was a “political investigation.”

“To be clear, I have never accepted bribes of any kind. As mayor, I have always acted in the best interest of the citizens of Jackson,” Lumumba said in a statement. he said. “We believe this is a political investigation against me and is designed primarily to destroy my credibility and reputation in the community. It is no coincidence and the timing is right before the upcoming mayoral race.”

“My legal team will vigorously defend me against these accusations,” he continued. “Once again, I am disappointed but undeterred, so I ask for your patience and prayers during this time.”

Misty Severi is the evening news reporter for Just The News. you can follow him on X for greater coverage.