Federal prosecutors have revealed an indictment this week targeting multiple allegedly corrupt politicians in Mississippi, accused of engaging in a bribery scheme for personal gain.
Corrupt politicians indicted on Thursday
The indictment, unveiled on Thursday in the Southern District of Mississippi, implicates Hinds County District Attorney Jody E. Owens II, aged 43; Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, aged 41; and Jackson City Council member Aaron Banks, aged 47, all Democrats, in the alleged scheme.
Prosecutors announced, “Between approximately October 2023 and May 2024, Owens facilitated bribe payments to public officials in Jackson on behalf of two FBI undercover employees posing as real estate developers (the Developers) in exchange for at least $115,000 and the promise of future financial benefit.”
“Owens instructed the Developers that, for their project to succeed, they needed to secure the support of certain public officials in Jackson through bribery,” the indictment continued.
The public officials in the indictment included Mayor Lumumba, Councilman Banks, and former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee.
The mayor is alleged to have taken a $50,000 bribe from the developers in return for propelling their project forward.
Prosecutors claim that the funds were then funneled through Lumumba’s campaign before he withdrew them.
It is alleged that Councilman Banks solicited a $50,000 bribe to endorse the developer’s project.
Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee previously admitted guilt in the scheme, reportedly accepting “a $10,000 debt repayment, $3,000 in cash, and a shopping spree valued around $6,000 in luxury items for her votes supporting the Developers’ proposed development project in downtown Jackson.”
Charges against Mississippi politicians
Owens faces charges of conspiring to engage in federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering; three counts of federal program bribery; using interstate commerce facilities to further illegal activities; honest services wire fraud, money laundering; and providing false statements to federal officers.
“The indictment alleges that Jackson’s mayor, the district attorney in Jackson, and members of Jackson’s city council conspired to accept bribes in exchange for official acts benefiting purported real estate developers,” commented Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
“Officials who abuse their positions of authority to enrich themselves undermine public confidence in government,” she added. “The Justice Department is committed to restoring that confidence by working with its law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute public corruption.”
Lumumba is also charged with conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering; federal program bribery; using interstate commerce facilities for unlawful purposes; honest services wire fraud, and money laundering.
Banks faces one count each of conspiracy to commit federal program bribery, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering; and one count of federal program bribery.
Allegedly corrupt politicians remain in power
All three officials, who were charged on Thursday, wield influence over the local judicial system in Jackson.
Owens serves as the county prosecutor, holding significant authority over felony prosecutions, while Lumumba appoints the Jackson police chief, and Banks, as a council member, has the power to confirm or reject Lumumba’s appointments,
The city council is also responsible for setting budget allocations for city departments, including the police department and municipal court.
The Mississippi constitution prohibits individuals convicted of most felonies from holding elected office, but makes no requirement for a person to resign from their post before being convicted.
On Thursday, Owens he vowed to challenge what he termed a “flawed FBI investigation” and made no mention of stepping down.
“I’m going to get back to protecting Hinds County and being the district attorney that you elected me to be,” he stated.
The same day,Lumumba declared his plans to continue his re-election campaign, and Banks refrained from commenting on his intentions regarding staying in office or seeking another term.
All three pleaded not guilty and were released pending trial. On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Daniel P. Jordan scheduled a trial date for January 6.
