ConvictedCorruption

Former Hinds County DA Jody Owens and ex-Jackson councilman Aaron Banks sentenced in federal bribery case

A federal judge sentenced former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens to 41 months and former Jackson councilman Aaron Banks to 45 months after both pleaded guilty to bribery conspiracy, WJTV reports.

WJTV Jackson reports that a federal judge on November 5, 2026, sentenced former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens to 41 months in prison and a $100,000 fine, and former Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks to 45 months, a $15,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy and must report to prison on January 4, 2027. According to the indictment, the scheme ran from October 2023 to May 2024 and involved more than $80,000 in bribes from purported developers who were actually FBI confidential sources, in exchange for official action on a downtown Jackson project. Prosecutors said Owens acted as intermediary and accepted at least $115,000 in cash and promised benefits. Former Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba, who also pleaded guilty, is scheduled for sentencing on November 20, 2026. The notes report no response from those named.

Why it matters

The case involves a county prosecutor and city elected officials who pleaded guilty to conspiring to take bribes tied to official action on a development project. It resulted in federal prison sentences for two of them.

BriberyGovernment OversightCourts and Judges

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