JACKSON, Miss. – Mayor of Mississippi’s capital cityThe top prosecutor in the state’s largest county and a Jackson City Council member have been indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges in a case that forced the resignation of another city council member, according to federal court records released Thursday.

The charges against Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and council member Aaron B. Banks were brought after two men working for the FBI posed as real estate developers who wanted to build a hotel near the convention center in downtown Jackson. Payments were made to officials, including $50,000 for the mayor’s re-election campaign, according to court documents.

As Lumumba, Jody Owens and Banks appeared before a magistrate judge on Thursday, the mayor’s supporters packed the small courtroom and pleaded not guilty. The three men will remain free while awaiting trial.

Outside the courthouse, Lumumba said he was grateful to those who reached out to him locally, nationally and internationally.

“I am not guilty and therefore I will not behave like a guilty man,” Lumumba said. “While my attorneys continue to handle these court proceedings, I will continue to conduct the business of the city of Jackson.”

The mayor released a video statement Wednesday, saying the indictment was a “political investigation” that would hurt his 2025 re-election campaign. He also said: “I have never accepted bribes of any kind.”

Owens told reporters outside the courthouse on Thursday that the indictment was “an egregious example of a flawed FBI investigation” and “an attempt to assassinate my character.”

“We think it needs to come to light that cherry-picked statements about drunk locker room banter are not crimes,” Owens said. He said he will fight the charges, “but right now I’m going back to protecting Hinds County and being the district attorney that you elected us to be.”

Banks refused to speak to reporters as she left the courthouse.

Lumumba and Banks were elected in mid-2017. Owens was elected in 2019 and took office in 2020. All three are Democrats.

Jackson City Council member Angelique LeeThe Democrat, first elected in 2020, resigned in August and pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges as a result of the same FBI investigation. His sentencing is scheduled for November 13.

In May, FBI agents raid Owens’ office and a cigar bar he owns in downtown Jackson. Among the items found at the district attorney’s office was a lockbox made to look like a book labeled the U.S. Constitution, containing approximately $20,000 in cash and displaying serial numbers confirming that approximately $9,900 was paid to Owens by the alleged developers. newly sealed indictment.

According to the indictment, Owens boasted to would-be developers about his influence with Jackson officials and “facilitated the payment of more than $80,000 in bribes” to Lumumba, Banks and Lee in exchange for their agreement to secure approval of the multimillion-dollar downtown development.

The document also states that Owens “solicited and accepted at least $115,000 in cash and promises of future financial benefits” from the alleged developers to use his relationships with Lumumba, Banks and Lee and act as an intermediary in payments to them.

According to the indictment unsealed Thursday, Lumumba instructed a city employee to delay the deadline to support the alleged developer’s project, and Banks and Lee agreed to vote in favor of the project.

Sherik Marve Smith, Owens’ relative and insurance broker, waived the indictment and pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in the Oct. 17 case, according to court documents. February 19.

Smith conspired to give cash payments and campaign contributions to two Jackson elected officials, and the money came from developers who allegedly worked for the FBI, according to court documents.

According to the newly unsealed indictment, Owens, Lumumba, Smith and the alleged developers traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in April on a private jet paid for by the FBI.

During a meeting captured on audio and video aboard a yacht, Lumumba received five campaign checks for $10,000 each and called a Jackson city employee and instructed that person to delay the deadline for submitting proposals to develop the property near the convention center. It says in the indictment:

The indictment states that the deadline was pushed back to benefit developers who allegedly worked for the FBI and possibly eliminate their competition.