Sentencing of Former Jackson, Mississippi Mayor Delayed Again: Lumumba to Be Sentenced November 20; Owens and Banks Still Set for November 5
There is a new development in the federal bribery case in Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi: the sentencing of former Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has been delayed again. On October 27, U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan granted a sealed motion filed by Lumumba's side, postponing his final sentencing to 1 p.m. on November 20, though Lumumba must still appear in court at 9 a.m. on November 5.
The sentencings of former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and former Jackson City Council member Aaron Banks remain set for November 5. Under the judge's plan, the court will first hear all three defendants' objections to the presentence investigation reports on November 5 — the judge said he would hear all objections together to avoid inconsistent rulings — then hear statements and sentence Owens and Banks in turn, reserving Lumumba's statement and sentencing for November 20.
Court records do not state the reason for Lumumba's request for a delay. The judge issued the order after a video status conference on October 27 with prosecutors and attorneys for all three sides.
The three were indicted in November 2024 and pleaded guilty this past July: Lumumba and Banks admitted to conspiracy, while Owens pleaded guilty a week earlier and resigned as district attorney. Each faces up to five years in prison. The case grew out of an FBI undercover operation in which agents posed as developers seeking support for a downtown Jackson hotel project; prosecutors allege Lumumba agreed to accept $50,000 disguised as five $10,000 campaign donation checks in exchange for moving up a project deadline.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 杰克逊市前市长乔奎·安塔尔·卢蒙巴在公开活动上讲话。 / Former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba speaking at a public event.
