Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge and resigned his post on Monday, marking the latest development in a sprawling bribery case that has ensnared multiple Jackson, Mississippi, officials. Owens, who initially denied wrongdoing, now faces up to five years in prison, fines of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
Owens' resignation takes effect July 1, following his guilty plea in U.S. District Court in Jackson. In a Facebook post, he called the decision "one of the most difficult" of his life but insisted it was best for his family and the District Attorney’s Office. The case stems from a 2022 FBI undercover operation where agents posed as real estate developers offering bribes to push through a downtown Jackson hotel project.
Prosecutors allege Owens accepted at least $115,000 in cash and facilitated additional payments, including $50,000 for Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba’s reelection campaign. Lumumba and former Councilman Aaron Banks were also indicted in the scheme. Owens previously dismissed the charges as a "flawed FBI investigation" and an "assassination attempt" on his character.
The FBI’s sting operation began in fall 2023, with undercover agents posing as developers. Recordings allegedly captured Owens discussing bribery tactics and money laundering through businesses and campaign donations. The case has drawn scrutiny to Jackson’s political landscape, with Lumumba losing his reelection bid last year amid the scandal.