Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba pleaded not guilty to five federal charges Thursday afternoon in federal court in connection to the Jackson bribery scandal that involves Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, who were also indicted Thursday.On Thursday morning, an unsealed indictment revealed Lumumba is accused of accepting a $50,000 bribe through Owens "in the form of five $10,000 campaign donation checks.”
Lumumba faced one count of conspiracy, one count of federal program bribery, one count of use of an interstate facility in aid of racketeering, one count of wire fraud and one count money laundering.
"Lumumba accepted the checks knowing and understanding that the money was from the developers, and that it was being offered in exchange for official action from Lumumba in favor of the developers' proposed development project," the indictment said.
The indictment also states Owens, Lumumba and Banks are accused of conspiring with former Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee and businessman Sherik Marve’ Smith "to carry out a bribery scheme to enrich themselves."
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Poster Comment:
What has this world come to when we can't trust a race hustling grifter?