Jackson politics, property, and power.
Federal Criminal Case · Docket 3:24-cr-103
Complete coverage of U.S. v. Owens, Lumumba, and Banks — the federal bribery prosecution that ended July 6, 2026, with all five defendants pleading guilty and no trial. The story now moves to the fall sentencing calendar.
Case resolved
5/5
guilty pleas · no trial
Sentencings begin Oct 15
At a glance
Former Hinds County District Attorney
Pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and resigned as district attorney effective July 1. No forfeiture; the government will seek restitution. His plea agreement references a sealed supplement, the standard vehicle for cooperation terms. Sentencing October 15.
Pleaded GuiltyFormer Mayor, City of Jackson
Pleaded guilty July 6, seven days before trial and on the deadline for final pretrial filings. His McDonnell official-act defense will never reach a jury. Full plea terms had not reached the public docket at last update.
Pleaded GuiltyFormer Ward 6 Councilman
The last defendant standing, for a few hours. Pleaded guilty the same Monday as Lumumba, ending the case with no trial. His pending motion on the duplicitous bribery count dies unanswered.
Already pleaded guilty (cooperators)
Chief U.S. District Judge Halil Ozerden gave the disbarred former DA 30 days to show why he should keep practicing in federal court. That clock runs out around Sept. 3, six weeks before all three defendants are sentenced.
September 2, 2026 · 3 min read
General NewsChief U.S. District Judge Halil Ozerden has ordered Jody Owens to show why he should keep practicing in federal court after the state permanently disbarred him. His response is limited to two narrow claims, and his own words may have already foreclosed them.
August 16, 2026 · 2 min read
General NewsThe former Hinds County district attorney cannot practice law in Mississippi again. The court's order was both immediate and permanent, an unusual departure from the state's normal 30-day grace period.
August 2, 2026 · 3 min read
PoliticsBrad McCullouch, appointed to replace Jody Owens after his federal guilty plea, invited Shad White to audit the Hinds County District Attorney's Office. Owens separately moved to surrender his law license.
July 19, 2026 · 2 min read
April 2024
Lumumba allegedly directs the call moving a submission deadline from April 30 to April 16.
Nov 2024
Indictment unsealed. First court appearance for all three defendants in Jackson.
Feb 2026
Government moves to transfer venue to Gulfport, citing pretrial publicity.
Apr 1, 2026
"I am not moving this trial to Gulfport." — Judge Jordan at status conference.
May 11, 2026
Juror questionnaires mailed to the Northern Division pool. Protective order tightens discovery.
May 14, 2026
Omnibus order denies all motions to dismiss. Preserves entrapment defense for the jury. § 666 official-act question left for jury instructions.
May 29, 2026
Plea deadline passes. All three defendants keep their not-guilty pleas.
Jun 8, 2026
Lawyers meet to review juror questionnaires and prepare strike lists.
Jun 10, 2026
Government withdraws the motion to transfer venue. Trial stays in Jackson.
Jun 16, 2026
Tape-clip designations and objections due. Final pretrial conference.
Jun 29, 2026
Owens pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy and resigns as Hinds County DA effective July 1. Sentencing set for October 15.
Jul 6, 2026
Lumumba pleads guilty on the final pretrial filing deadline. Hours later, Banks pleads too. The case ends five for five, with no trial.
Oct 15, 2026
Owens sentencing. Lumumba and Banks sentencing dates expected in the same window.
Need more detail? See our full chronology.
June 7, 2026
Warren Gary Kohlman has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court, served as general counsel to the National Basketball Players Association, and once defended a congressman caught in the FBI's ABSCAM sting. Now he is in Jackson, defending the district attorney.
May 28, 2026
Three Jackson officials, three different indictments. The numbers aren't an accident.
May 25, 2026
An essay: for twenty years Jackson couldn't give away a downtown lot — and when investors finally arrived with a private jet and a yacht, they turned out to be the FBI.
May 25, 2026
For readers who want to understand Chokwe Antar Lumumba's case: of the three men charged, his alleged crime is the thinnest — and his defense the most purely legal.
May 25, 2026
As the Jackson corruption case heads toward trial, here's what the headlines won't tell you about how it will actually unfold.
May 25, 2026
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.
34 articles on the corruption case. New coverage is added automatically as filings drop.