Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens has resigned and pleaded guilty to federal bribery conspiracy charges, admitting he participated in a scheme that involved Jackson's former mayor and other city officials, according to court documents.
Background
Owens was indicted in November 2024 alongside Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and other municipal officials. The case emerged from an FBI operation in which two agents posed as real estate developers seeking to secure approval for a development project in Mississippi's capital city. Federal investigators allege Owens solicited and accepted cash payments while facilitating tens of thousands of dollars in additional funds his co-conspirators.
The Charges
According to federal prosecutors, Owens solicited and accepted at least $115,000 in cash bribes as part of the scheme. He also allegedly facilitated more than $80,000 in payments to alleged co-conspirators, including directing $50,000 to Lumumba's mayoral reelection campaign. Owens pleaded guilty to a single count of bribery conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.
Owens announced his resignation in a social media post, writing: "This was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made. While it hurts beyond measure to step away from a position I love, I believe this decision is what is best for me, my family, and the District Attorney's Office."
Lumumba, who has maintained his innocence and called the charges a "political prosecution," lost his reelection bid last year. He and former Jackson City Council member Aaron B. Banks have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to stand trial beginning in mid-July.
Two other co-defendants—Jackson City Council member Angelique Lee and Sherik Marve Smith, described as Owens's relative—both pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Jody Owens served as Hinds County District Attorney before resigning and pleading guilty this week
- Federal prosecutors allege Owens accepted at least $115,000 in cash bribes from FBI agents posing as developers
- Owens also allegedly facilitated over $80,000 in payments to co-conspirators, including $50,000 for Lumumba's campaign
- Former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has pleaded not guilty and calls the case politically motivated
- Trial for remaining defendants scheduled to begin mid-July in federal court
What's Next
Owens is awaiting sentencing on the bribery conspiracy charge, which carries a statutory maximum of five years imprisonment. The trial for Lumumba and Banks remains scheduled to proceed in mid-July. Owens's resignation creates a vacancy in the Hinds County District Attorney's Office that Mississippi authorities will need to address through appointment or special election.