Former Mississippi DA Jody Owens gets federal prison time in Jackson bribery scheme
A former prosecutor who ran as a reformer admits to rigging city contracts for cash from undercover FBI agents.
Former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison and fined $100,000 for soliciting $250,000 in bribes to rig Jackson city contract bids. The money came from two FBI agents posing as real estate developers. Prosecutors say he also facilitated more than $80,000 in bribes to Banks, Lumumba, and Lee in return for their help advancing a development project. Aaron Banks, the former Jackson City Council president, was sentenced Thursday to almost four years in prison for his role.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan said Owens had sworn to uphold the law and then tried to rig what should have been a fair, open bidding process. Owens apologized in court and said he had betrayed his family, friends and colleagues. Former Jackson mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and will be sentenced later. Former council vice president Angelique Lee and Sherik Marve Smith, a relative of Owens, pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in 2024.
Key points
- Owens received more than three years in federal prison and a $100,000 fine.
- The bribes came from undercover FBI agents posing as developers.
- Former council president Aaron Banks was sentenced to almost four years.
- Former mayor Lumumba has pleaded guilty and is waiting to be sentenced.
- Two others pleaded guilty in 2024.
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Summarized with AI from the sources above and reviewed before publishing.
