Indicted Jackson County interim chief accused of bribery scheme over 2026 race

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota was indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts, including honest-services fraud, federal program bribery, two Travel Act violations, and making false statements, for allegedly offering government jobs to a candidate to withdraw from the 2026 county executive race; the indictment was returned July 16 and unsealed as LeVota appeared in court.