On November 6, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of three prominent officials from Jackson, Mississippi, on charges related to an alleged bribery scheme. The individuals charged are Hinds County District Attorney Jody E. Owens II, 43; Mayor of Jackson, Chokwe Antar Lumumba, 41; and former President and current member of the Jackson City Council, Aaron Banks, 47. Following the indictment, all three defendants appeared in court on November 7, where they formally pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the indictment, between October 2023 and May 2024, Owens is accused of facilitating bribe payments to Jackson’s public officials on behalf of two FBI undercover agents posing as real estate developers. DOJ alleges that in exchange for at least $115,000 and promises of future financial benefits, Owens directed the undercover agents on how to secure support from key officials, including Mayor Lumumba, Councilman Banks, and former Councilwoman Angelique Lee. Specifically, Owens is accused of specifying the amounts, locations, and timings for the bribes, thereby orchestrating the details of the scheme.
Mayor Lumumba is alleged to have accepted a $50,000 bribe disguised as five $10,000 campaign-donation checks from third-party entities, including Owens. The indictment claims that Lumumba laundered these funds through his campaign account before withdrawing a portion for personal use. Council Member Banks is charged with soliciting a $50,000 bribe in exchange for his votes in support of the Developers’ downtown Jackson project. He is accused of accepting an initial $10,000 cash payment, along with promises of employment funds for a family member and a protective detail service. Former Councilwoman Lee is alleged to have received a $10,000 debt repayment, $3,000 in cash, and luxury goods worth approximately $6,000 in exchange for her votes supporting the proposed development.
Additionally, the indictment states that on May 22, an FBI agent approached Owens, identified himself, and questioned him about the bribery scheme. Owens is accused of making materially false statements during this interaction, which further complicates his legal situation.
The defendants face a range of serious charges. Jody Owens is charged with conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to federal officers, with each charge carrying potential penalties ranging from five to twenty years in prison. Chokwe Antar Lumumba faces similar charges, including conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, and using a facility in interstate commerce for unlawful activity, each with significant prison time. Aaron Banks is charged with conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, and federal program bribery, with maximum penalties of up to ten years for each count.Â
It is important to note that an indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The legal process will allow the defendants to present their case and challenge the charges against them.
The attorneys at Chilivis Grubman represent clients of all types and sizes in connection with public corruption charges, including those involving bribery, extortion, and other criminal allegations. If you have been accused of bribery or any type of public corruption, contact us today to arrange a consultation with an experienced public corruption attorney.