Mississippi Supreme Court Permanently Disbars Former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba
Mississippi Today reported Thursday that the Mississippi Supreme Court took away the law license of former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba for good, following his offer to give it up two months earlier. Lumumba is awaiting sentencing on a federal felony charge after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery.
The case stems from an FBI operation that ensnared multiple officials in Mississippi’s capital city. Lumumba did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the court’s decision.
Federal Bribery Case and Bribes Disguised as Campaign Donations
A sweeping federal indictment in 2024 alleged that Lumumba directed a city employee to shorten a bid deadline to benefit a pair of out-of-town developers working with Owens. In exchange, Lumumba received $50,000 in campaign donations, according to court documents cited by Mississippi Today. Unknown to the local politicians, the developers were undercover FBI agents.
The defendants gave favorable consideration to an informant’s downtown convention center hotel project. Federal authorities ultimately exposed a broader public corruption scheme involving bribes, private planes, strip clubs, and yachts.
Sentencing Postponements and Co-Defendant Proceedings
Lumumba was initially scheduled for sentencing last month, but U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan III postponed the hearing to early November. According to Mississippi Today, Lumumba’s attorneys are awaiting a ruling on a motion to further postpone the sentencing.
Lumumba faces sentencing alongside his co-defendants, former Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens and former Jackson City Councilmember Aaron Banks. Businessman Sherik Marve Smith and former Jackson City Councilmember Angelique Lee were also involved in the scheme. Up to five years in prison, $250,000 in fines, and three years of supervised release await Owens, Lumumba, and Banks individually. Angelique Lee and other individuals involved in the scheme have also yet to be sentenced.
Political Fallout and Previous Legal Disbarments
The legal fallout accompanies a significant shift in local leadership. Lumumba lost his reelection bid in July 2025 to former state Sen. John Horhn. Meanwhile, the Mississippi Supreme Court disbarred Jody Owens in July after the former district attorney voluntarily surrendered his legal license and stated he had no plans to fight the disbarment.
Federal Sentencing Date Set for November 5
Federal sentencing proceedings for Lumumba, Owens, and Banks are scheduled for November 5, following a delay from earlier timelines. The court will determine prison terms, financial penalties, and supervised release conditions for the former officials.
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