Chokwe Antar Lumumba Pleads Guilty in Bribery Scheme

Chokwe Antar Lumumba, who once served as the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, admitted guilt on Monday to a charge of conspiracy connected to a substantial real estate bribery plot.

Serving as mayor from 2017 until 2025, Lumumba allegedly accepted significant amounts of cash—reportedly tens of thousands of dollars—distributed by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. These funds came from undercover FBI agents who posed as real estate developers.

Interestingly, Owens, a fellow Democrat, also pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy just last week.

Details of the Scheme

Documentation obtained reveals that Owens funneled over $80,000 to Lumumba, along with former Jackson City Council Democratic Vice Chair Angelique Lee and Sherrick Marv Smith, who is related to Owens.

The indictment claims that Owens obtained these funds from individuals believed to be real estate developers in Nashville, Tennessee, in exchange for promises to facilitate the approval of a multi-million dollar development project in downtown Jackson. However, these developers were actually undercover FBI agents.

Additionally, the indictment states that Owens solicited and accepted at least $115,000 in cash and future financial promises from these developers.

Specifically, Lumumba is said to have received $50,000 in campaign contributions in return for his support of certain real estate projects. The indictment clearly notes that Lumumba was aware that these funds were coming from a developer in exchange for his formal support.

Reactions and Consequences

Originally, Lumumba characterized the prosecutor’s actions as politically motivated. He faced a loss in the 2025 election to John Horn, who went on to win the city’s Democratic primary and now holds the position of mayor.

Both Lumumba and Owens could potentially face up to five years in prison, and their sentencing has been scheduled for October 15.

Efforts to contact Lumumba, Owens, Lee, and the legal representatives for the City of Jackson for further comments have been initiated.