JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Mayor Lumumba is indicted on five federal charges in connection with Jackson bribery scheme.

So what does this mean for you?

It is not unprecedented for someone who currently holds elected office to be charged or indicted with federal crimes.

As a result, state laws and past events give us some guidelines for what will happen next.

Lumumba is accused of the following charges:

• Conspiracy – Up to five years in prison, $250,000 fine, and three years probation
• Federal schedule bribery – carries up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 fine, and three years probation
• Use of interstate facilities to aid racketeering – carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release
• Honest services wire fraud – carries a penalty of more than 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years probation
• Money laundering – punishable by not more than 20 years, a fine of $500,000, and not more than three years of probation

Under state law, the mayor would be removed from office if he is found guilty or pleads guilty.

The council would then choose among themselves who would temporarily assume this role.

However, the mayor has the authority to conduct city business as usual until he is convicted or resigns.

“The legal presumption of innocence is important here. Given his legal status, he is presumed innocent of any pending criminal charges, and that does not legally impact his ability to govern,” said MC Law professor Matt Steffey. “From a practical standpoint, it is certainly politically damaged. The City Council may be more assertive, or the political winds may blow against it. “All these political dynamics may affect him, but legally speaking, he is the mayor and he is the mayor until he is convicted or resigns.”

In addition to running city affairs, Mayor Lumumba will also be allowed to run for re-election in 2025.

“We’ve had this over and over again with Frank Melton, who was running for mayor at the time the criminal charges were filed. So it’s entirely possible for Mayor Lumumba to run for office, win office, and then participate in a felony trial,” Steffey explained. “We have a president-elect who was recently convicted and is appealing his convictions for dozens of crimes. Politics and criminal charges strange but not unprecedented.”

Lumumba’s trail is set for January 6, while the former Interim Hinds County Sheriff’s conviction is set to come soon. Marshand Crisler This indicates that it may take more than a year for us to reach a decision in this case.

Following the indictment and his appearance before the Federal Courthouse, Mayor Lumumba has maintained his innocence and does not expect to stop his campaign for re-election.

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