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.
36 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?
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