JACKSON, Miss. — The mayor of Jackson, along with the Hinds County District Attorney and a city council member, has been charged with conspiracy and bribery, according to federal court documents that were revealed on Thursday. This case has already led to the resignation of another city council member.
The indictments against Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, District Attorney Jody Owens, and City Council member Aaron B. Banks stem from an FBI operation in which two agents posed as real estate developers interested in constructing a hotel near Jackson’s convention center. During their covert investigation, they allegedly made payments to the officials, including a contribution of $50,000 for Lumumba’s reelection campaign.
On Thursday, Lumumba, Owens, and Banks were expected to appear in court for initial proceedings before a magistrate judge. Prior to this, Lumumba issued a video statement asserting that the indictment was a politically motivated attack aimed at undermining his 2025 reelection ambitions.
“My legal team has informed me that I have been indicted on charges of bribery and related offenses,” said Lumumba, who has a legal background. “To clarify, I have never taken a bribe. Throughout my tenure as mayor, I have prioritized the interests of Jackson.” Attempts to reach Owens’ legal representative and confirm legal representation for Banks were unsuccessful.
Lumumba and Banks were elected in mid-2017, while Owens took office in 2020 after being elected in 2019. All three officials are affiliated with the Democratic Party. Another council member, Angelique Lee, a Democrat elected in 2020, resigned in August after pleading guilty to federal bribery charges linked to the same FBI inquiry, with her sentencing set for November 13.
In May, agents conducted a search of Owens’ office and a downtown Jackson cigar bar he owns. Among the items seized was a lockbox disguised as a book entitled the U.S. Constitution, which held around $20,000 in cash—nearly $9,900 of which was noted to have serial numbers verifying it came from the alleged developers, according to the latest indictment.
The indictment reveals that Owens claimed he could influence Jackson officials and allegedly facilitated over $80,000 in bribes to Lumumba, Banks, and Lee to secure their approval for the substantial downtown project. He is accused of receiving at least $115,000 in cash and other benefits from the developers as part of this scheme.
The charges state that Lumumba directed a city employee to alter a submission deadline to assist the developers’ project, while Banks and Lee consented to vote in favor of it.
Sherik Marve Smith, who is reportedly related to Owens and works as an insurance broker, waived his indictment on October 17, pleading guilty to a federal bribery charge. He has agreed to forfeit $20,000, with a sentencing date set for February 19. Smith is accused of conspiring to deliver cash payments and campaign contributions to two elected officials in Jackson, originating from the developers working with the FBI.
Details from the unsealed indictment show that Owens, Lumumba, Smith, and the supposed developers traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on an FBI-chartered private jet in April. A recorded meeting on a yacht documented Lumumba receiving five $10,000 campaign checks. Furthermore, he was heard directing a city employee to change a deadline to favor the developers, a move believed to potentially eliminate competition for the project.
The mayor has vowed to fight the charges against him vigorously. “We view this as a politically motivated prosecution meant to tarnish my standing and credibility within the community,” Lumumba stated.