Key facts
- Former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering.
- Former City Council President Aaron Banks also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.
- Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and resigned.
- Lumumba and Banks face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
- Sentencing hearings for Lumumba, Banks, and Owens are scheduled for October.
Former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and former City Council President Aaron Banks have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to a bribery scheme. Lumumba pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud, and money laundering, while Banks pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. Both face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing hearings scheduled for October. These pleas avert a trial that was set to begin on July 13. Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens also pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and resigned the week prior. Prosecutors alleged that Lumumba accepted $50,000 in bribes disguised as campaign contributions, with Owens facilitating payments and cashing checks through his bank account. Another city council member, Anjelique Lee, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery. Lumumba, who initially denied the charges and called them politically motivated, was first elected mayor in 2017. Attorneys for the National Conference of Black Lawyers suggested that Black elected officials face disproportionate scrutiny.