[JustTheNews] Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is facing five federal charges, Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens is facing eight charges, and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks is facing two.
Jackson, Mississippi Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and other city officials on Thursday pleaded not guilty to a string of federal corruption charges.
The group of indicted officials, which includes Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, and Ward 6 Councilman Aaron Banks, has been accused of accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for favors and positive votes, according to USA Today.
Another city council member, along with a conspirator, was charged in the case earlier this year, and pleaded guilty. The city council member Angelique Lee admitted that she accepted nearly $20,000 in "cash, deposits and other gifts." The conspirator, Sherik Marve' Smith, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.
Owens is currently facing the most amount of charges of the group, with eight felony counts. Lumumba is facing five charges, and Banks is facing two. The charges range from bribery to racketeering.
The indictment detailed that Owens facilitated $80,000 in bribes to Lumumba and Lee in exchange for official action on a hotel development project.
Owens also allegedly accepted $115,000 from undercover FBI agents who were posing as developers from Nashville.
“Owens, Banks, Lumumba, Lee and Smith were not aware that, in reality, the Developers were working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation,” the indictment states.
Owens and Lumumba have denied the bribery allegations, and the mayor claimed the case was "political prosecution."
"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," Lumumba said in a statement. "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," he continued. "Again, while I am disappointed, I am not deterred, so I ask for your patience and your prayers during this process."
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