Another domino falls in the federal investigation of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba as Sherik Marve Smith waived indictment to a charge of conspiracy to commit bribery yesterday in U.S District Court.
Smith is a field manager at PennGlobal insurance company.
The bill of information states Smith and Unindicted co-conspirator A intended to pay cash and campaign contributions to "undindicted 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." The bill states:
Specifically, Unindicted Co-conspirator B agreed to vote in favor of the real estate development project proposed by Individual I and Individual 2 and to approve the moving of a deadline to benefit Individual 1 and Individual 2's real estate development project. Unindicted Co-conspirator 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.
A few things are said about unindicted co-conspirator "C" in the bill of information. 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.
Although C could be a member of the Lumumba administration, the bill makes it clear C can only be one person:
13. SMITH and Unindicted Co-conspirator A coordinated the time, place, manner,and means of payments and favors from Individual 1 and Individual 2 to Unindicted Co-conspirator B and Unindicted Co-conspirator C. 14. SMITH and Unindicted Co-conspirator A funneled a payment to Unindicted Co- conspirator C's re-election committee through a bank account owned or controlled by Unindicted Co-conspirator A and through a bank account owned or controlled by SMITH, in part to conceal that Individual 1 and Individual 2 were the true source of those payments.... 16. In March and April 2024, SMITH and Unindicted Co-conspirator A offered and transmitted the following payments and benefits from Individual I and Individual 2, understanding they were intended as bribes, to Unindicted Co-conspirators Band C in exchange for Unindicted Co-conspirator B's future vote or votes in favor of Individual I and Individual 2's proposed real estate development project in the City of Jackson, and in exchange for Unindicted Co-conspirator C's direction to one or more city employees to move a deadline in favor of Individual I and Individual 2's proposed real estate development project in the City of Jackson: a. A $10,000 cash payment from Individual 1 and Individual 2 to Unindicted Co conspirator B; b. Protective services for Unindicted Co-conspirator B; c. An employment opportunity for a family member ofUnindicted Co-conspirator B; and d. A $10,000 check from SMITH to Unindicted Co-conspirator C's re-election committee using funds from Individual 1 and Individual 2 after those funds had been routed through an account belonging to Unindicted Co-conspirator A.
The bill of information requires Smith to forfeit $20,000 to the federal government. The maximum penalty is 5 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine.
The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan, III and Magistrate Lakeesha Isaac. Attorney Ed Blackmon, Jr. represented the defendant at his arraignment this morning.
Smith's bond was set at $10,000.
Kingfish note: The District Attorney is probably unindicted co-conspirator A. Who is C? Well, only one person can direct city employees and receive campaign contributions. B is probably another member of the Jackson City Council. It should be noted the FBI seized the phones of Aaron Banks and Mayor Lumumba in May. Under the Skillet decision, the prosecution must show a benefit was obtained from the bribes. In this case, only members of the executive branch of Jackson's municipal government could provide the benefit sought by Smith and his partner, the convention center hotel contract.
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 in the news for various troubles over the last year. She pleaded guilty to a DUI-other charge in Madison in June 2023 but the media did not discover the conviction until March after Council President Aaron Banks was arrested for a DUI. The media duly reported the news of both arrests.
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 (Yes, you read that correctly. The Councilwoman took a bag full of cash from strangers.) Earlier post with transcript.
Lee went on a $6,000 shopping spree at a "luxury store" in Jackson and other stores on March 28. Luxury brands such as Louis Vutton appeared on her bill. 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.
78 comments:
If I'm reading this right Co-conspirator C is Chokwe, Co-conspirator A is Aaron Banks and Co-Conspirator B is Jody Owens.
On an unrelated note anyone else notice that the Jackson City Council website has been down for several days?
I think we can all agree that this is nothing more than an effort by white racist Mississippi State government officials to punish Mayor Lumumba for exposing what they did to cause Jackson’s water system to collapse.
John Grisham could write this into a pretty good novel if he wrote it up quickly. He could change the names and put it in Canton or Brandon, and no one would ever figure out where he got his plot. He could name the mayor Chuckles LaBoomBa. and make him the son of a guy who wanted to form the nation of New Mexico in Madison County and break away from the USA. I guess New Mexico has already been taken, but I can't do all the work for him.
Will the FBI arrest Chockwe already to save the city of Jackson from his incompetence?
Book 'em Danno, all of them.
Me again - John Grisham could have a blogger named Princefish, who writes the blog Canton Gumbo, be the guy who breaks the case wide open. No one would ever figure it out.
It's only a perception of corruption in City Hall, right?
One phone call from the White House and it all goes away.
Tell that to Adams, Cantrell, that Oakland Mayor.....
One call, that's all! Oh wait, that's Sir Richard, the king of torts!
Is there anyone higher up the food chain that Chowke could rat out?
Excellent reporting. Keep it coming, KF.
This sparks joy.
It's as easy as A, B, C. Right?
I just checked the local TV stations websites and there is no mention of this on any of them. So much for their up-to-the-minute news reporting. Good job Kingfish!
Can there be a parade when this clown mayor gets arrested?
9:44
They didn’t have Bennie.
Hey CJ LeMaster...I know this story does not fit the narrative you try so hard to cultivate for Chokwe, but if you ever decide to stop carrying his water you should steal this story.
Or keep the poor minority constituents in the dark to help your friend the mayor get re-elected so he can continue to steal from them. Whatever.
Waiting for the breaking news article from Mississippi Today, that bastion of the "Search for Truth."
Great job, Kingfish. I was curious and searched several things on Ms SOS campaign website. It would appear that some documents may have been pulled from there. Searched:
-all contributions over $9k for last 2 years, all candidates
-all contributions from Smith
-all contributions to/from Owens
-all contributions to/from Owens' PAC, Friends of Jody Owens
-even searched for anything from PennGlobal.
Can't find that $10k anywhere.
It was posted one minute after you made your comment. https://www.wlbt.com/2024/10/17/second-person-charged-bribery-scandal-that-brought-down-jackson-councilwoman/
10:30, your comment shows ignorance.
Of all the news organizations in the Jackson area, the one most critical of the mayor with in-depth reporting to prove it is WLBT.
Maybe you should actually read more and troll less...?
Reports only have to be filed by the end of January in non-election years. Municipal and county campaign finance reports are not posted on the SOS website.
9:32 wins the troll of the year award.
Seems like CJ has set his name-Google Alert.
When the federal arrest of Lumumba hits the headline, I will break my sobriety to throw down at the local bar in celebratory fashion. Yes, I would trade my liver to see this asshole in jail and out of the mayor's office.
Thanks for the info. Appreciate it.
The City of Jackson landing page has apparently been down for the past few days, as well as access to Council minutes and other documents.
'If it please the court we really did think we were booking one of those bands to entertain the yutes when we hired those Shreddit folks to stop by...That's what we are sticking with'
KF please don't get me all excited that Lumumba's days are numbered. Feel like I'm going to be let down
11:13, I'll join you. I don't drink, but I would start for this. I want to celebrate!
I know what you mean. If Lumumba ends up not being caught in all of this, its just going to be horrible.
Let Lee, Banks and Owens go, and take Chock!!!!!
I think you are correct. Owens has to be one of them. And if actions were taken that only a mayor could authorize, well then...
What Sister R doin?
No way Banks goes down with rolling.
Did the Mayor get his cellphone back from the Feds, or is he just using burners now?
For one thing, NOT paying her past due tax-sale sold property taxes.
I'm not a Bennie supporter, but even Bennie knows when to step aside. There is one thing a grifter doesn't like, and that is another grifter in the same hood.
Now that the funneling technique has been exposed have to believe the Federales are reviewing other big dollar campaign contributions. No way Jose that this was the first.
10:06 has a good question. All along, it hasn’t made sense to me that the Biden administration would support this investigation, as they’ve never had any issue with graft, corruption, and allowing major cities to devolve into dysfunctional cesspools of crime before. Why do they care now?
The only explanation that makes sense is the COJ democrats they’re targeting right now, aren’t their REAL target. Hmmm…
Now imagine all the crimes the feds are just learning about. The gov may have to install a new govt team to take over Jackson or maybe dissolve the entire city
An operation like this one by the feds (where sitting elected officials get offered bait) require approvals at a high level in D.C.
@1:03 PM Because they don't like the competition.
Get his corrupt ass!
If the Feds indict Mayor Lumumba on this flimsy evidence, he will be exonerated. All C is accused of doing is moving a deadline. And these “developers” gave him a campaign contribution. So what? Politicians routinely accept campaign contributions from people who have business before them. It’s the way the system works. How can they prove C knew about this allegation that the developers funneled the campaign contribution through some account before they made the contribution?
What they don’t allege, unlike with every other culprit in this scheme, is that C accepted one penny of bribe money. That C got promised a relative would get a job.
Now we all know the fact that Mayor Lumumba is innocent means nothing to the Feds when they decide to get you. See Mayor Gerald Blessey, Supreme Court Justice Oliver Dias, Sec. of Agriculture Mike Espy. And many, many others.
"Innocent" is not the same as "not guilty."
Democrats gotta get this Prez election behind them so the Democrat Feds can stop this pre-election “perception of law and order.”
Gotta get back to allowing the one-party Democrat forever controlling cities via crime and chaos to grifting without consequences.
@1:36 Thank you FreetheLand supporter for your comment. Listen, you are trying to poke holes in your only piece of evidence which is a BILL OF INFORMATION. You're sadly mistaken if you think the feds have not considered all in which you describe. Trust me, they have evidence, they have seized phones, they have raided homes and businesses. You now have not one, but TWO individuals who have pleaded guilty. Get a grip.
If blah blah blah.
Let's get to the nut.
What they don’t allege, unlike with every other culprit in this scheme, is that C accepted one penny of bribe money. That C got promised a relative would get a job.
The above observation should be read keeping in mind two things.
#1: Thus far Mayor Lumumba has not yet been indicted.
#2 The absence of allegations in a criminal information supporting the indictment of a person who apparently is described in the criminal information as "Unindicted Co-conspirator C" is not probably all that surprising.
wonderful
When are the Jackson area Harvard grads going to send some wtf emails to Harvard about giving the Mayor an award?
primo
When will we find out who really is A, B, and C? As of now, it is speculation.
The spin doctors are all over this post, spinning to the right and spinning to the left.
I'll be real glad when this election season is over. Maybe the professional bullshitters will leave us alone for a while.
How about this one: De-fund the election industry!!
Just wait until 1:36 reacts to the Mair's indictment!
Apologies, my device substituted "criminal" for "information". It is indeed a bill of information, although I do occasionally wonder if the mayor is a
Unseal the indictments!
What the feds do have is one freshly turned Angel, I mean Angelique, telling them how it went down.
Free the indictments!
Why does the single bid of $3 million recently for the COJ annual insurance not raise a red flag??
Way to go Kingfish! Keep the rest of the media on their toes! Still chuckling over "Princefish"...
October 17, 2024 at 1:36 PM
Cope and seethe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8MZBUoQt68
October 17, 2024 at 2:14 PM
Not until the Feds are good and ready to unseal another indictment. So likely not for a while, but probably before next years election.
I'm sure Unindicted Co-conspirator C is more worried about what the people making deals with the prosecution will be telling the feds than he is about what the feds already know.
As a Jackson resident, I’m feeling kinda like one of the palace guards right after Dorothy splashed water on the Wicked Witch of the West. Chokwe’s melting - can we take his broom with us?
Why are so many people moving from Jackson to Madison County and Rankin County while their Jackson houses are on the market and they can not sell them at a reasonable price?
1:03 I've been wondering the SAME thing! I can't imagine the political reasoning behind why the Biden DOJ would be criminally targeting the administration of a virtually white-free American city. From an ideological perspective, it makes no sense.
I absolutely sucked at algebra where you mixed numbers with letters of the alphabet, but I think I've got this figured out. My bet:
"B" is on the City Council, his first name, not his last name, starts with the letter "B", and
"C" well he's obviously the Mair
It's all going down because the Biden Administration will need Uncle Bennie's list of those to pardon before January 20, 2025. Ya think?
I’m jealous of 9:32’s take. Brilliant. Why not just go ahead and arrest C? Please, for the love of god, the streets, water, libraries, cemeteries, Thalia Mare, etc.., arrest C.
From the most recent post on the plea hearing:
Smith agreed to funnel $10,000 to Co-conspirator "C" if C agreed to shorten the deadline.
C directed an employee to shorten the deadline on April 2 after receiving the $10,000 campaign contribution.
If they got him on something, they are sure taking their happy go lucky time about charging him.
Some of y'all give the Democrats way too much credit for strategic thinking, organization, and discipline.
They're probably waiting for the small fish to finish playing 'Let's Make A Deal' so they can have their choice of charges to hit the malefactors with.
I tend to agree , as far as the mayor is concerned I really think if he is C and un indicted, that he will remain un indicted. There is no reason to stall in Mississippi! Either you got him or you don’t .
Jackson has turn into a soap opera
Thousands received in bribe money and the person spends it on fancy clothes that will be worthless in a few years. How ridiculous.
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