JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A federal judge is pushing forward in the bribery case involving Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, former Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba and former City Councilman Aaron Banks.
The three face 17 federal charges linked to alleged soliciting and accepting bribes from undercover FBI agents.
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According to the unsealed indictment, Owens conspired with Lumumba, Banks, former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee, Ward 2, Sherik Marve Smith and others to carry out a bribery scheme to enrich themselves from October 2023 to May 2024.
On October 1, 2025, the judge asked both sides to update the court on their review of evidence. Defense attorneys and prosecutors confirmed they’re still going through thousands of documents and hundreds of hours of recordings.
Banks’ attorney questioned why the evidence covers such a wide time span and said it suggest the prosecution is pursuing other investigations. Prosecutors told the court they’re waiting on final phone records and FBI materials. The judge ordered them to submit any remaining evidence within two weeks.
A second status conference will take place before the trial, which has been scheduled for July 13, 2026.
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