Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is facing federal bribery charges in connection with an FBI investigation into corruption of elected officials in Mississippi’s capital city.
“Jackson residents, it is with great disappointment that I come before you,” Lumumba stated in a video. “My legal team has informed me that federal prosecutors have, in fact, indicted me on bribery and related charges.”
The charges against Lumumba come after former Ward 2 City Councilwoman Angelique Lee and local businessman Sherik Marve Smith pleaded guilty to the roles they played in a multi-party conspiracy to ensure that money from FBI agents posing as real estate developers from Nashville, Tenn. would be funneled to Jackson officials to influence a staged project.
Lumumba, who previously denied wrongdoing when asked about his potential involvement in the scheme, has doubled down on maintaining his innocence.
“To be clear, I have never accepted a bribe of any type. As mayor, I have always acted in the best interest of the citizens of Jackson. We believe this to be a political prosecution against me. Primarily designed to destroy my credibility and reputation within the community,” Lumumba said.
“There is no coincidence in its timing being just before the upcoming mayoral race. My legal team will vigorously defend me against these charges.”
Court documents that were unsealed in late October unveiled that Smith, a relative and business partner of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, was in cahoots with co-conspirators A, B, and C in the scheme. Co-conspirators B and C were identified as elected officials within the city of Jackson in the bill of information.
Back in March, Smith and Owens submitted a request for qualifications to the city of Jackson for the development of a convention center hotel. An FBI raid ensued at multiple businesses owned by Owens, along with his office at the Hinds County Courthouse. The FBI also visited Jackson City Hall during the raids.
According to court records, Smith and co-conspirator A funneled payments to co-conspirators B and C in exchange for votes on a proposed real estate development in Jackson and for co-conspirator C’s “direction to one or more city employees to move a deadline in favor of Individual 1 and Individual 2’s proposed real estate development.” Individuals 1 and 2 were undercover FBI informants.
Only the mayor can steer the date of a vote to be moved. When previously asked if he had received a $10,000 campaign contribution linked to the bribes, which were reportedly divvied out between last October and this past May, the mayor deflected, reiterating that all questions regarding the investigation should be directed at the proper authorities. Lumumba admitted that he had not filed an updated campaign finance report since 2022.
At this point, it is uncertain if the mayor’s legal team will claim entrapment. Entrapment is a legal defense that occurs when a government agent uses threats, fraud, or harassment to convince someone to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed. Per legal experts, entrapment is an incredibly difficult case to argue.
“While I am disappointed, I am not deterred,” Lumumba concluded. “I ask for your patience and prayers during this process.”
