politics
Former Jackson Mayor Lumumba Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy; Had Called Charges Political Prosecution
Chokwe Antar Lumumba admitted to accepting $50,000 in campaign contributions from undercover FBI agents in exchange for favoring a downtown development project. Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens also pleaded guilty last week in the same case.
Jul 7, 12:23 PM·1m read5 sources
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Former Jackson mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba pleaded guilty Monday to one count of conspiracy for accepting $50,000 in campaign contributions from undercover FBI agents posing as Nashville real estate developers. The payments were made in exchange for Lumumba's support of a proposed multi-million-dollar downtown Jackson development project, according to the federal indictment.
Lumumba served as mayor from 2017 until he lost the 2025 Democratic primary to John Horhn, who now holds the office.
Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy last week. Owens distributed more than $80,000 to Lumumba, former city council vice president Angelique Lee, and Sherik Marve Smith after soliciting and accepting at least $115,000 in cash and future benefits from the undercover agents. Lumumba and Owens each face a maximum of five years in prison.
Sentencing for both is set for October 15. Lumumba had previously described the charges as a political prosecution. A separate report noted that former city council member Aaron Banks also entered a guilty plea to conspiracy on Monday.
