Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens has resigned and pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy charges, according to court documents. The plea comes after his indictment in November 2024, stemming from an FBI sting operation where agents posed as real estate developers offering bribes to local officials.
Owens is accused of soliciting and accepting at least $115,000 in cash. The indictment also alleged that he facilitated over $80,000 in payments to alleged co-conspirators, including $50,000 designated for Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba's reelection campaign. Lumumba, who has maintained his innocence and characterized the charges as politically motivated, lost his bid for reelection last year.
Owens faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison. He announced his resignation via social media, stating it was one of the most difficult decisions he has ever made, but believed it was best for himself, his family, and the District Attorney's Office.
Several other officials were implicated in the scheme. Former Jackson City Council member Aaron B. Banks and Mayor Lumumba have pleaded not guilty and are slated to begin trial in mid-July. Angelique Lee, another Jackson City Council member, and Sherik Marve Smith, a relative of Owens, previously pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in 2024.