Chokwe Antar Lumumba Accepted Cash from Undercover FBI Agents

On April 4, 2024, Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens were indicted for bribery. The pair accepted payments during a yacht trip organized by undercover FBI agents in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while discussing development projects in Jackson. Lumumba directed a city employee to change a deadline for the city's statement of qualifications, facilitating the agents’ project goals. The payments included five checks of $10,000 deposited into Lumumba's campaign account following his return. This scandal is part of ongoing investigations into corruption involving local officials, which has sparked significant community concern about ethics in governance and the integrity of public officials.