Former Jackson Mayor Pleads Guilty in FBI-Backed Bribery Case

Former Jackson, Mississippi mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in a federal bribery case tied to a proposed downtown convention center/hotel project after an FBI undercover operation. Prosecutors say Lumumba accepted five $10,000 checks totaling $50,000 and moved the project deadline to gain an advantage for agents posing as developers; the plea follows earlier guilty pleas by others, including ex-Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens II, with Lumumba facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is pending, and co-defendant Aaron Banks is set for trial July 13.