FILE - Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba watches a debate at the Mississippi Capitol on Feb. 7, 2023, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
- The former Jackson mayor’s disbarment follows his pleading guilty to a felony conspiracy charge. He is set to be sentenced on November 5.
Former Jackson mayor Chokwe Lumumba has officially been disbarred by the Mississippi Supreme Court.
The order of permanent disbarment came Thursday after the Mississippi Bar’s motion to accept the irrevocable resignation of Lumumba.
Lumumba’s disbarment follows his pleading guilty to a felony conspiracy charge in July related to the Jackson bribery scandal that also involved former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and former city councilpersons Angelique Lee and Aaron Banks.
Lumumba, a Democrat, was facing various charges which included wire fraud, money laundering and bribery.
As previously reported, Lumumba, Banks, and Owens were indicted in October 2024. The case centered on two FBI confidential assets posing as real estate developers. The pair sought support for a proposed hotel near the Jackson Convention Complex. Prosecutors alleged the purported developers used private plane travel, cash payments, campaign checks and other benefits, which included a trip to a famous Miami area strip club, to secure official action from Jackson officials.
Former Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee was the first public official charged in the investigation. She pleaded guilty in August 2024 after admitting she accepted bribes from undercover FBI operatives posing as developers in exchange for her support of the hotel project. Lee resigned from the City Council the day of her plea.
The indictment against Owens, Lumumba and Banks alleged that payments to Lumumba included five $10,000 campaign contribution checks delivered during a yacht trip off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prosecutors said the checks were made to appear as though they came from Mississippi donors. According to the indictment, Lumumba accepted the checks in exchange for agreeing to move up the deadline for a request for qualifications connected to the hotel project. Prosecutors alleged Lumumba called a city employee while on the yacht and directed that the RFQ deadline be changed. The indictment also alleged Owens received $50,000 in cash during the Florida trip for his role in facilitating the payment to Lumumba.
Federal prosecutors further alleged Owens facilitated payments to Banks and Lee. In February 2024, according to court filings, the undercover operatives gave Owens $60,000 in cash, including $25,000 for Owens, $25,000 for Banks and $10,000 for Lee. Prosecutors said Owens told the operatives he would store Banks’ and Lee’s money in a safe at the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office. That same day, according to the indictment, Owens gave Banks an envelope containing $10,000 in cash. Prosecutors also alleged Banks accepted protective services and employment for a family member in connection with the scheme.
Owens, Lumumba and Banks had repeatedly sought to have the case against them dismissed or separated, raising arguments that included entrapment, government misconduct, venue concerns and requests for separate trials.
The three former elected officials will be sentenced on November 5.
The order from the Mississippi Supreme Court is shown below.
Frank Corder
