As federal officials continue to investigate corruption in Mississippi’s capital city, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba says he did not conspire with anyone in a bribery scandal that recently cost a city councilwoman her seat.
During his weekly press briefing on Monday, the mayor was flooded with questions regarding a potential role he played in a multi-party conspiracy to ensure that money from FBI agents posing as real estate developers from Nashville, Tenn. would be funneled to Jackson officials to influence a staged project.
“To be clear, with respect to any allegations or speculation on that, I have not conspired with anyone to commit a crime,” Lumumba asserted.
Last week, court documents were unsealed showing that local insurance specialist Sherik Marve Smith had pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. Smith was in cahoots with unindicted and unidentified co-conspirators A, B, and C in the scheme. Co-conspirators B and C were identified as elected officials within the city of Jackson in the bill of information.
Smith’s admission of wrongdoing followed former Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee pleading guilty to accepting bribes in connection with the corruption case.
Back in March, Smith and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens submitted a request for qualifications to the city of Jackson for the development of a convention center hotel. An FBI raid ensued at multiple businesses owned by Owens, along with his office at the Hinds County Courthouse. The FBI also visited Jackson City Hall during the raids.
According to court records, Smith and co-conspirator A funneled payments to co-conspirators B and C in exchange for votes on a proposed real estate development in Jackson and for co-conspirator C’s “direction to one or more city employees to move a deadline in favor of Individual 1 and Individual 2’s proposed real estate development.” Individuals 1 and 2 were undercover FBI informants.
Only the mayor can steer the date of a vote to be moved. With that alluding to the possibility of Lumumba being connected to the scandal, the mayor was asked if he had any association with Smith.
“I have met him a couple of times. I don’t know what associated means, but once again, I would direct anyone to those who are hosting that particular investigation,” the mayor added. “I have never conspired with him or anybody else to commit a crime.”
When specifically asked if he had received a $10,000 campaign contribution linked to the bribes, which were reportedly divvied out between last October and this past May, the mayor deflected, reiterating that all questions regarding the investigation should be directed at the proper authorities. Lumumba admitted that he had not filed an updated campaign finance report since 2022.
The mayor also would not answer if he happened to be involved in the FBI’s current investigation.
“I have never conspired with anyone to commit a crime. Period,” Lumumba exclaimed.
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