Judge grants request to continue Jackson’s bribery case

On November 27, 2024By Pranco

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The Jan. 6 trial date for three local government officials involved in a plan to bring a convention center hotel to Jackson has been postponed.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan granted a request from attorneys to continue the case. He agreed that the case was complex and that “the nature of the prosecution involves allegations that generally require extensive evidence.”

“Given that all parties view the matter as complex (which it is) and requiring additional time to prepare, the court specifically finds that ‘the ends of justice served by taking such action , outweigh the interests of the public and the defendant(s). in a speedy process,” he wrote.

Jordan said new dates will be set once the parties discuss how many days are needed for the trial and jury selection. He said the parties must submit that information to the court within fourteen days.

The order comes about a month after Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Ward Six Councilman Aaron Banks and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens were indicted in connection with the scheme.

Owens faces eight charges, in part, for helping facilitate the delivery of about $80,000 in bribes to city officials from out-of-state developers for supporting a convention center hotel. The out-of-state developers were confidential human sources at the FBI.

The mayor allegedly took $50,000 in bribes from the so-called developers in the form of campaign finance donations to speed up the response time for developers to respond to a request for qualifications for the project. He allegedly accepted the checks after flying by private jet to a yacht in Ft. Lauderdale. After that meeting, he was given access to $5,000 to spend at a strip club in Miami.

In January, the city issued a request for qualifications seeking developers interested in developing 7.75 acres across from the Jackson Convention Complex. Three companies, including Facility Solutions Team, a front company from Tennessee, responded.

Owens, who was listed as a partner in FST’s response to the RFP, filed incorporation papers for the firm on March 19, days after responses to the RFP were due.

Banks are now said to have received around $10,000 in cash for his support of the project. He also bragged to FBI informants that he could use his position on the council to freeze salary increases if the RFP date was not moved.

The three pleaded not guilty to the charges during their arraignment earlier this month.

View all our coverage of the Jackson bribery scheme here.

Do you see a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the story headline in your email.