The Jackson Bribery Case: A Timeline
An updated chronology of United States v. Owens — from the FBI's 2022 tip through the July 13 trial date, with the jury and venue fight in focus.
United States v. Jody E. Owens II, et al. — No. 3:24-cr-103-DPJ-LGI (S.D. Miss.). Updated through May 25, 2026.
Highlighted entries mark jury and venue developments. Trial is set to begin July 13, 2026. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
2022–2024 · Investigation, Sting, Indictment
May 2022
FBI receives the tip that launches the Jackson public-corruption probe.
Aug–Sept 2022
Source reporting references Owens and the cigar shop; Owens added as a "subject" (Sept. 12 email). Sept. 2: Capitol Police gun-pointing incident.
Dec 2022
FBI confidential sources begin operating in Jackson as fake developers.
July 26, 2023
First government contact with Owens at the cigar bar (defense's key predisposition date).
Aug 14, 2023
Meeting where the defense says Owens showed reluctance.
Oct 2023
Nashville trip (private jet); Owens allegedly becomes a target. Oct. 16: indictment's claimed "predisposed" date.
Nov 2023
Owens reelected; designated a subject of the investigation.
Dec 2023
First Florida yacht trip; $125,000 cash.
Jan–April 2024
Payments around Banks and Lee; the "War Room"; RFQ deadline moved (Lumumba call, April 12); 2nd Florida trip, five $10K checks to Lumumba.
May 22, 2024
Search warrants; hollow-Constitution cash recovered; Owens interview (false-statement count).
Aug 14, 2024
Angelique Lee resigns and pleads guilty.
Oct 17, 2024
Sherik Marve' Smith pleads guilty.
Oct 31 / Nov 7, 2024
Grand jury indicts; indictment unsealed; all three plead not guilty.
2025 · Scheduling and the Election
Feb 19, 2025
Smith's first sentencing date; later continued (cooperation posture).
March 4, 2025
Mayfield sentenced (24 months).
March 7, 2025
Trial set for July 13, 2026. DOJ estimates 1–2 days for jury selection; Jordan corrects him, citing the 2009 Frank Melton trial (a full week; ~90% of pool had seen coverage).
April 22, 2025
Lumumba loses the runoff to John Horhn (~75–25); leaves office July 1.
2026 · The Pretrial Run-Up
Jan 12, 2026
Owens files 68-page motion to dismiss with ~50 FBI exhibits (entrapment / outrageous conduct).
Jan 13–15, 2026
Government emergency seal; temporary seal granted; Owens contests it.
Feb 11, 2026
Status conference: Jordan says jury selection "could take a while"; signals reluctance to move to Gulfport.
Feb 17, 2026
Jordan formally seals filings pending redaction review.
Feb 2026
Government moves to transfer venue to Gulfport OR draw a district-wide venire (sealed; AUSA Purdie).
March 11, 2026
Lumumba files his own motion to dismiss (McDonnell "no official act").
March 15, 2026
Banks moves to sever.
March 25, 2026
Owens opposes transfer: "forum shopping" brief (Jackson 82% Black vs. Gulfport ~38%).
April 1, 2026
Status conference: Jordan — "I am not moving this trial to Gulfport." Adopts a questionnaire-first plan; district-wide venire as backup. Sets discovery deadlines.
Early May 2026
Court mails the Frank Melton-style juror questionnaire to the Northern Division pool.
May 11, 2026
New protective order restricting discovery to defense teams; return/destruction post-trial.
May 14, 2026
Omnibus order: denies all dismissal and severance motions; PRESERVES entrapment for the jury; holds §666 needs no "official act" but still requires quid pro quo (jury-instruction fight); defers jury-taint to selection.
May 15, 2026
Venue briefing and questionnaire unsealed and reported.
May 19, 2026
Owens's "forum shopping" response published.
The Road Ahead
May 29, 2026
Plea-change deadline.
June 8, 2026
Parties meet to identify jurors to strike (lawyers' work session, NOT in-court voir dire).
June 9, 2026
Strike lists due to the court.
June 15, 2026
Final supplemental briefing on the transfer / venire question due.
June 9 – July 1
Watch for Jordan's written ruling on the venire: stand pat, enlarge the Northern Division pool, or go district-wide.
July 13, 2026
Trial begins; in-court voir dire starts this day (projected ~1 week, within a ~6-week trial).
Correction from earlier drafts: in-court jury selection begins July 13, 2026, not June 8 — June 8 is the lawyers' strike-list meeting on questionnaire results. Compiled from public court filings and Mississippi news reporting (WLBT, WLOX, Mississippi Today, WJTV, Magnolia Tribune). Dates involving sealed filings reflect news accounts of unsealed versions; some exact dates are approximate. Informal analysis, not legal advice.