Former Jackson Mayor Lumumba Pleads Guilty in $115,000 Bribery Scheme
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 7
Former Jackson Mayor Lumumba Pleads Guilty in $115,000 Bribery Scheme
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 7
Summary
Chokwe Antar Lumumba pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy, admitting his role in a bribery scheme tied to a proposed multi-million-dollar downtown Jackson development.
Federal prosecutors said Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens took at least $115,000 in cash and promised benefits from supposed developers who were actually undercover FBI agents.
Lumumba allegedly accepted $50,000 in campaign contributions, knowing the money was offered in exchange for official action favoring the project; Owens had already pleaded guilty last week.
Angelique Lee, the former Jackson City Council vice president, and Sherik Marve Smith were also named in the indictment as recipients of funds funneled by Owens.
Lumumba, Jackson's mayor from 2017 to 2025, had called the case political before losing his 2025 re-election bid; he and Owens are set for sentencing on Oct. 15 and each face up to five years in prison.