A federal judge has refused to dismiss bribery charges against Jackson officials, including former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and District Attorney Jody Owens, as the high-profile trial nears.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan III denied motions for dismissal and to sever the cases on Thursday. The trial remains set for July 13. Owens, Lumumba, and former City Councilman Aaron Banks were indicted in November 2024 in connection with an FBI investigation into a downtown convention center hotel project.
Court records allege that undercover FBI agents exposed a network of bribery, private planes, and yachts tied to the development effort. Owens argued that the FBI exploited his diagnosed alcoholism to set him up, but the judge rejected that claim, stating the case does not meet the criteria for pretrial dismissal. Lumumba’s defense maintained he did not commit an official act under federal bribery law, but that argument was also rejected.
All three defendants have pleaded not guilty. Their trial, initially scheduled for January, was delayed due to the volume of evidence. Jury selection is underway, with both sides preparing to begin the process of excluding potential jurors on June 8.
The indictment accuses Owens, Lumumba, and Banks of orchestrating a scheme to influence city decisions through bribes and campaign contributions. Prosecutors allege undercover agents paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, including a $250,000 upfront payment, in exchange for political favors. Owens faces multiple charges, including conspiracy, bribery, racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, and false statements, carrying a maximum sentence of 100 years. Lumumba faces similar charges with a maximum of 75 years, while Banks faces up to 15 years.
As the case moves forward, federal prosecutors seek to move the trial out of Jackson, citing intense pretrial publicity that could compromise jury impartiality. They propose relocating the trial to Gulfport or selecting jurors from outside the district. Defense attorneys oppose the move, and Judge Jordan has ordered both sides to submit additional arguments by June 15.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
