District Attorney Resigns Amid Federal Bribery Charges

Jody Owens, the District Attorney for Hinds County, has stepped down following his guilty plea in a significant federal bribery case in Mississippi.

According to local news station WAPT, Owens admitted guilt to conspiracy charges in U.S. District Court in Jackson on Monday.

The indictment from October 2024 had initially accused him of conspiracy, federal program bribery, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.

This case arose from an FBI sting operation in 2022 where an individual pretended to be a real estate developer interested in constructing a convention center hotel in downtown Jackson.

Federal prosecutors allege that Owens accepted over $115,000 in cash and future benefits in return for using his influence to facilitate various projects within the city government.

Reports indicated that undercover recordings captured Owens discussing how he bribed public officials and the laundering of illegal funds via corporate and campaign donations.

After his guilty plea, Owens announced his resignation on Facebook, effective July 1. He described this decision as one of the hardest he had ever made, expressing that leaving a job he cherished was “incredibly painful,” but ultimately the best choice for his family and the office he led.

In his post, he reflected on his time as District Attorney, calling it a “privilege and honor” and thanking those who supported his family during difficult times.

If convicted of the conspiracy charges, Owens could face up to five years in federal prison, alongside a potential $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

His sentencing is scheduled for October 15.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi and the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office have not yet commented on the matter.