Jackson Officials Face Bribery Charges | Hattiesburg News

Three former Jackson officials—Mayor Chokwe Lumumba, DA Jody Owens, and Councilman Aaron Banks—pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy after allegedly accepting cash and favors from undercover FBI agents posing as developers. Owens acted as the middleman, pocketing over $115K, while Banks took $10K in cash and promised $50K for future votes. Former Councilwoman Angelique Lee also accepted $19K in cash and gifts. The trio allegedly manipulated city deadlines, voted for a downtown project, and even took a private jet trip to Fort Lauderdale paid for by the FBI—all to push through development deals. Sentencing is delayed until November 2026. Sherik Marve Smith also pleaded guilty. The case underscores how power can corrupt, with raids on homes and offices still ongoing as courts navigate this complex web of corruption. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.wjtv.com/news/jackson-bribery-scandal/sentencings-delayed-for-lumumba-owens-and-banks-in-jackson-bribery-case/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a856cf8670973e1f Report issues to [email protected].