Former Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks wants to sever his trial on federal public corruption charges from the trial for Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.
A federal grand jury indicted Banks for conspiracy and bribery on October 23, 2024. The indictment claims Banks "solicited a $50,000 bribe" in exchange for his vote on Owens and Smith's convention center hotel bid. Owens and insurance mogul Marve Smith formed a company, Facilities Solutions Team, LLC, to pursue a contract to develop a hotel for the Jackson Convention Center with what they thought were out of state developers. In reality, the developers were undercover FBI agents.
The indictment charges Owens made an initial payment of $10,000 to Banks and promised to hire a relative. Banks' daughter worked for the District Attorney.
Banks and Lumumba filed motions to sever their trials from the Jody Owens trial on February 27. There is little information to report on the motions since they were filed under seal.
The defendants are scheduled to go to trial July 13. The grand jury indicted Chokwe Antar Lumumba: for conspiracy, bribery, Use of an interstate facility in aid of racketeering, honest services wire fraud, money laundering while Owens is charged with conspiracy, bribery (3 counts), use of an interstate facility in aid of racketeering, honest services fraud, money laundering.
Former Councilwoman Angelique Lee and Smith pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bribery in 2024 as well. They await sentencing.
5 comments:
obtaining a severance in a multiple defendant trial in a federal court is very difficult.
These bastards know no shame. That's okay, fella's. The feds are going to show you what that word means.
trial strategies a beginning to take shape.
banks and lumumba will be using the ''mere presence'' defense, in other words ,''i was just hanging around when all this happened''
they gonna point the finger at owens and thats why they want the severance.
you dont want to be pointing fingers at co defendants you sitting at the same table with.
The fact that Banks has not pled in return for his testimony makes me believe the Federal Government has a pretty strong case. It’s past time for politicians to be held accountable for selling out the majority for their own gain. The corruption is rampant at every level of government.
I agree. Two bad that politicians are not being held accountable in the Department of Human Services train wreck.
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