Former Jackson Mayor Pleads Guilty to Bribery

Chokwe Antar Lumumba, the former Democratic mayor of Jackson, Mississippi, admitted guilt on Monday to charges related to a real estate bribery scheme that involved significant sums of money.

According to reports, Lumumba accepted $50,000 in campaign contributions from an undercover FBI agent who posed as a real estate developer. Additionally, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, also a Democrat, pleaded guilty to receiving bribes as well.

Both Lumumba and Owens are facing potential prison sentences of up to five years, as detailed in the indictment. It stated that Lumumba was aware the funds were tied to actions he would take in favor of the developer’s project.

Requests for comments from Lumumba’s attorney, Owens’ office, and the city of Jackson went unanswered.

The Justice Department mentioned that Owens disguised payments to Lumumba as five separate $10,000 checks from various third-party entities. These funds were subsequently laundered by Lumumba.

The indictment specifies that Owens accepted money from FBI agents in agreement to facilitate approval for the developer’s large-scale project in downtown Jackson.

Initially, Lumumba argued that the charges against him were politically motivated. He asserted, “Let me be clear: I have never accepted a bribe of any kind. As Mayor, I have always acted in the best interests of the City of Jackson.”

Lumumba served as the city’s mayor from 2017 until 2025, having been reelected after John Horn won the Democratic primary. His father, Chokwe Lumumba Sr., had also held the mayoral position from 2013 to 2014.