Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced a federal grand jury indicted him on "bribery and related charges" in a video posted on the city's Facebook page.
Jackson residents, it is with great disappointment that I come before you. My legal team has informed me that federal prosecutors have, in fact, indicted me on bribery and related charges. 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. There is no coincidence, and its timing being just before the upcoming mayoral race. My legal team will vigorously defend me against these charges. Again, while I am disappointed, I am not deterred, so I ask for your patience and your prayers during this process. Thank you.
Synopsis of Case
Former Jackson Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in August.
The Jackson Redevelopment Authority issued a request for proposals for the convention center hotel project in September 2023. JRA withdrew the RFP. The city of Jackson issued a request for statement of qualifications for the Convention Center hotel project in January 2024.
Three companies submitted responses: Speed Commercial Real Estate, 2K Development LLC, and Facility Solutions Team. Facility Solutions Team is owned by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Marve Smith. It is odd for a district attorney to engage in real estate development but Owens has been involved in real estate for over a decade. Owens created the company on March 19, a week after the RFQ's March 12 deadline.
Somewhere along the way, the District Attorney met two FBI agents posing as Nashville investors. Since the contract for the project would eventually require approval from the Jackson City Council, Owens introduced his new-found money men to members of the Jackson City Council. Council members Ashby Foote, Virgi Lindsey, and Vernon Hartley said they met with Owens and his new-found friends at various restaurants in the Jackson area. None of these three members took the bait.
However, Councilwoman Lee took a different path.
Lee was elected to the City Council in a 2020 special election after Melvin Priester, Jr. resigned. The Councilwoman never paid A2Z for her yard signs and other campaign materials. A2Z Printing sued and obtained a default judgment against Lee. After collection efforts failed, the company started garnishing her City Council paycheck in October 2023. Thus Lee was somewhat vulnerable to bribery when the District Attorney and his federal friends came calling.
Owens introduced Lee to the "investors." The would-be developers said they needed her help in steering the contract to Owens as well as closing a road near the convention center. The "investors" paid her A2Z bill by providing the funds to Owens. Owens deposited the funds in his PAC account. The PAC in turn wired the money to A2Z. Debt paid. However, the bribery continued as Lee's taste for nice things arose.
A Justice Department attorney said at Lee's arraignment Wednesday that Lee had dinner with the District Attorney and the "investors" on March 27. The dinner was quite the jovial affair as Lee decided she needed some of the finer things in life for her troubles. A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do, right? Lee agreed to go on a shopping spree the next day but with a twist: the "investors" would pay for the shopping spree on their credit card.
Lee also thanked the "investors" for paying off her A2Z bill. The dinner was quite profitable for Lee as one of the agents gave her a bag containing $3,000 in cash to pay for her trip to the White House. Earlier post with transcript.
Lee went on a $6,000 shopping spree at a "luxury store" in Jackson and other stores on March 28. The trap didn't close on the hapless Councilwoman until the Fibbies executed a search warrant of her home on May 22 and recovered all items but a bottle of cologne as Lee gave that to her boyfriend.
U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan, III is scheduled to sentence her on November 13.
The FBI seized the cellphones of Owens, Lee, Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, and at least three other individuals in May.
Owens' partner in the project, Marve Smith, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in U.S. District Court last month. Smith is a field manager at Global Penn Insurance Company.
The bill of information states Smith and Unindicted co-conspirator A intended to pay cash and campaign contributions to "unindicted co-conspirators B and C in exchange for B and C committing "official acts in their roles as elected officials of the city of Jackson."
B agreed to sell his vote for the Smith and Owen's convention center hotel bid. Smith's Bill of Information state C "directed one or more City of Jackson employees to move a deadline in favor of Individual 1 and Individual 2's real estate development project."
JRA issued a request for proposals for a convention center hotel project in September 2023. The agency soon withdrew the RFP. The city of Jackson issued a statement of qualifications (a watered down RFP) in January 2024. Owens and Smith formed Facility Solutions Team, LLC and responded to the SOQ.
The Information alleges the undercover agents paid bribes to Owens who in turn transferred $10,000 to Smith. Smith allegedly funneled the money to the Mayor as a campaign contribution.
105 comments:
Let's play the racist blame-game in 3, 2, 1...
Bahahahahaha!!!!
Another prayer answered
About Damn
Time!
Yeeeeesssssss!!!!
Good. He can have my prayers. Prayers that he will leave office for those citizens he thinks so much of with or without criminal sentencing.
Can this week get any better?
Hope he demands trial
Just a perception of a crime-
He sound a lot like Trump.
Lumumba is expected to be arraigned in federal court on Thursday.
Chowke: "This indictment is the result of open carry, gun shows, and racist ultra-MAGAs."
This will galvanize his entrenched voter base, as they carry him towards martyrdom. To that base , an indictment and conviction is tantamount
to the MOH.
Stevie Wonder could of seen that coming!
Teflon Chokwe Antar Lumumba is going to slip free!
I don’t think taking a page from Donald Trump is the answer. Jackson voters aren’t the smartest, but they aren’t MAGA dumb enough to believe the witch hunt bs.
4:58 truth!
I'm sure the feds just haphazardly put this together and it's a mistake. Haha jk Chokeway pack your bags
Please, feds, get him and his sister out of this state.
Perp walk his ass.
This is turning out to be a one damn perfect day!
I second your motion.
The jury pool will not come from hinds county
Indeed! What a day for great news!
Heard Antar is questioning his decision to snub 45 when he came to Jackson for the Two Museums opening.
Come January we’ll have a president who would be inclined to hear Antar’s witch hunt whines (see Trump and Kwame Kilpatrick), but the mayor put a giant middle finger in 45’s face. Willing to wager DJT won’t forget the treatment.
Mayor Tone Deaf still hasn't figured out that he's destroyed his credibility and reputation completely on his own.
hallelujah this is the only thing that could save jackson!
LMAO! a political hit??? Democrats are running the DOJ. Democrats that pretty much let anything go. Whatever they've charged him with must be pretty bad for a Democrat DOJ to indict him. Unless Bennie just got fed up with him.
Why is Lumumba using city resources to release this 'statement'?
Who is his legal team?
The Barksdalers are going to run cover for him. Just watch.
And the hits just keep on coming! Woop woop! A great day for people with sense.
Finally! He was inducted into the National Civil Rights Hall of Fame a few days ago. If convicted, will that be rescinded?
Will never go to trial. At some point he will be presented a plea option that will
I'll be a reduced charge with very little time. He will take it. Otherwise, so.eobe needs to tell him that Feds don't lose. Given the change coming in DOJ, he may want to negotiate a deal before January.
What was the Skillet decision?
Who’s gonna tell them that “Let me be clear” means I’m about to lie my ass off or I have I have committed too many sins to turn back now.
[Ring, ring. Ring, ring.]
Lumumba: Hello, this is Shoookkkkway.
Caller: Hi Antar. This is Kwame Kilpatrick, remember me?
So tomorrow morning when the mask gets removed from "Unindicted co-conspirator B" that will claim "I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids!" who will it be?
Did the feds give him his phone back?
How does this happen while Uncle Bennie is babysitting?
His self-serving statement is directed to potential jurors. Right?
Some of these guys should legally change their name to unindicted co conspirator so they can avoid being named…..brilliant I say
He says he's being politically persecuted? By whom? Biden-Harris are currently in power and directing the Justice Department. I'm betting the FBI didn't move for an indictment until they had some really good evidence. Then again, I expect a very, very, very, very, long list of pardons in the next month from Biden...so Chok might get his get out of jail free card after all.
Let’s hope Bridget Todd is leading the defense team.
I hope he can serve his time close to his home in Detroit.
Chowke went from the Skillet to the Fire.
Hope Carly Gregg’s legal team is Hizzoner’s legal team.
What wonderful news. Just send him somewhere far, far away so he can't do any more damage to Jackson or to anywhere else. He is not the only one who needs to go.
We need another Renaissance JA Mom video in support of Chowke.
November 6, 2024 at 5:38 PM
I think he's up his own ass enough to fight it.
Just 24 hours in and already rooting out corruption. Thank you, President Trump!
Well, as that great theologian, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, so famously proclaimed, the chickens are coming home to roost.
Jody Owens is next. You read it here first.
Virgey Lindsay urged: "Jackson residents to be patient, open-minded and empathetic."
"Empathetic"? How many in Jackson could summon up empathy for Lil Choke after he's destroyed so much of the city, its infrastructure, its business, its credit reputation, its culture. After indictment, the Mayor stated he always acts in the best interests of Jackson. To underwrite that claim, he should resign the office he has abused and withdraw from any future politics in Jackson, immediately.
He should get it continued 87 times like Warnock and then run for President to get that sweet sweet immunity. Do the crimes, don’t do the time. It’s the new MAGA American way.
This has been the worst kept secret in Jackson. Sorry Chuck, but you are not untouchable as you thought. This is only the beginning of his problems. He will rat his people out to try not to do jail time. Same tune in other large cities. I have to ask Chuck, is this part of your new world order?
Radical…
I have been trying to figure out why the progressive democrat Biden/Harris DOJ would pursue and prosecute a black progressive democrat mayor in the deep south just before the POTUS election. Here's my best guess:
Chokwe orchestrated the water system failure through deliberate, profound neglect, hoping for the same flood of federal dollars that enriched Detroit (politicians) after their water crisis. I.e., if you think garbage contracts are lucrative, just wait 'till you steer huge emergency water contracts. Right?
It's an unsustainable trend, as the feds can't bail out every mismanaged municipal system across the country. Plus, it makes democrats look bad, because this incompetence is consistently democrat. So, it's time to make an example of two, or three, to discourage this kind of profiteering via profound neglect.
Glad to hear other theories, if someone has a better one. I dismiss out of hand any that assume pure motives, though, as the Biden/Harris administration has none.
Hey Beavis, some chick named Virgey said "Jackson residents need to be patient, and get an enema".
Shut up Butt-Head ... I think she's talking about cleaning a chalkboard.
To take advantage of a Biden pardon, he needs to be convicted quick before he leaves office but Mayor Ego gonna fight it, lose and then lose out on Biden
Just like Bill Clinton wouldn’t you agree?
How about a page from Bill Clinton
He sounds like Bill Clinton
Jackson needs a conservator to run its affairs.
@8:11 That's about as good a theory as any, it is somewhat curious timing
Soooo
No Thalia Mara Update this week due to the perception of indictments???
This is fairly likely to be career feds just doing their jobs from bust to trial. Some are fairly dedicated, some are counting the days until retirement and pension, and more than a few are some of both. Not many (and not enough to help him) are interested in or influenced by any of Choknut's bullshit about witch hunts, Kush, or anything else. Unless he can give them something that really gets their attention, he's another Nagin, Epps, Blagojevich, soon-to-be Menendez, and scores of other pols black and white popped with a hand in the cookie jar. If I had guess, if nothing else too bad comes out and he cooperates with what he can, he does 8-15. If anything else comes up or he pisses them off, 14 to 20.
8:11 is pretty close to the truth. Remember the poster saying “all yall playing checkers and Chokwe is playing chess”? This is exactly what they were talking about. Sabotaging the water system in hopes of a federal bailout to fix it. Probably a good bit of truth in that . Plus Richards was the icing on the cake.
Well, one thing that Carly Gregg's legal team and Chokwe Antar Lumumba's legal team seem to have in common is that all of those attorneys are too arrogant and too stupid to strongly encourage their GUILTY clients to accept a reasonable plea deal offered to them.
Even after the last election, some people still seem to think "the Democrats" are capable of successfully pulling off amazingly-intricate, far-reaching, and long-running conspiracies.
It's a testament to the human mind's need to create order out of chaos.
I hope they encourage Chokwe to please proceed to trial.
There is no conflict with Lumumba being indicted into the civil rights museum, because the civil rights movement has always been full of scam artists and grifters. Birds of a feather flock together.
I have been waiting on this moment for 8 long years. It's about time
A political prosecution. By the Feds. Under the most liberal administration in US history. Got it.
Even if Ludumba is not convicted he will be financially drained. The process is the real punishment. Stoked for Mayor.
Yet Phil Bryant still remains in the clear……
Jaw-drop at the claim of the indictment being political. How and why does a liberal democrat Department of Justice investigate and indict a liberal democrat mayor of a liberal democrat city for political purposes?
Sigh.....this has turned out to be a very good week.
Can’t wait til Mayors’ Monday press conference
Maybe he'll be a convicted felon and and then run for PotUS
Mugshot T-shirts and hoodies for sale.
He claims this is political yet this is a Federal indictment under a Democratic President and Justice Department. Make it make sense.
John Grisham's new book will be titled: "Jackson City Hall, a Perception of Corruption
Chowke could be pardoned by Biden without a conviction. There is a precedent to this: Pres. Ford pardoned Nixon even though Nixon had not been charged with a crime.
I agree with an earlier commenter about how could this be legal he is using city resources to discuss his own personal indictment?
@ Jody Owens is next. You read it here first.
November 6, 2024 at 7:29 PM
First? Nope. That's old news.
What time is the perp walk today? Will you be there, KF?
@8:11 pm
The only thing missing from your theory is who triggered the takedown? Possibilities include Judge Wingate, Bennie T, Shad White, Gov. Reeves.
I can't figure out if Virgie is just a hopelessly spineless sycophant or an unindicted co-conspirator.
T's have been crossed and the I's have been dotted. As Kenny said, resign and work out the best plea you can. Hopefully he will not end up with 47 continuances like Rudy.
Look at the bright side, now he qualifies to be elected president. We love our felons in the good ol' USA!
I love this for him. For two days in a row I’ve had reasons to celebrate political news.
Did Ole Ted the water czar find something while trying to fix his f-up and turn it in?
Also, all Jackson residents, he straight up LIED to every one of you about his phone being messed up. The feds had his phone, it wasn't messed up.
"Mayor Lumumba confirmed the news Wednesday in a video statement and he plans to fight these accusations.
“My legal team will vigorously defend me against these charges,” Mayor Lumumba said. So, how much will this cost our taxpayers to fight his battle, which he will lose.
8:33 - Your first guess was the right one.
Kingfish, this is my understanding. While in FL, Feds approached Lumumba, need deadline changed and will make contribution to campaign. Lumumba called someone, changed the date. Campaign contribution made.
Somebody give Stokes a press conference, PLEASE!
Owens, Banks, and Lumumba are all named in one indictment. Arraignment is at 1:30 this afternoon. Judge Is Dan Jordan - a very smart, no-nonsense judge. Waiting on indictment to be unsealed.
Will this get him disbarred?
Will this get him disbarred?
Once he's convicted. he will be disbarred. He needs to resign ASAP. It's clear he was using his office as a criminal enterprise. This calls into doubt EVERYTHING he has done. He's on tape bragging about taking drug money. He cannot stay in office with these charges.
Look. They were given an opportunity like the others to plead to an information and then the horrific details would not have to come out. They chose this course. You can tell from the indictment that the Feds are dotting every i and crossing every t. Those photos came from videotapes. No telling how many hours of tape there are.
Is Rukia his attorney
there hasn't been this much political joy in the air since january 1981 when regan was being sworn in and the hostages were being released by iran. its been a wonderful 48 hours. more progress than i have seen in the past 48 months.
I’m no lawyer, but the case against the mayor doesn’t seem as air tight as the others. Remember this is the lawyer who took his own city council to court and exploited a footnote in his favor. If the feds don’t have more than what in this indictment, he walks with the right jury easy.
Chowke has a "legal team" on speed dial? Doesn't everyone? Right?
November 7, 2024 at 8:31 PM
But remember, Justice Reynolds also re-issued the opinion without the offending footnote. That didn't stop Lumumba of course. You can accuse Lumumba of being a wily lawyer, but never accuse him of being a competent one.
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