Mississippi
Mississippi Bar wants Jody Owens suspended from law after guilty plea
Hinds County DA Jody Owens pleads guilty in Jackson MS bribery scandal
Hinds County DA Jody Owens pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge related to the Jackson bribery scandal. He also resigned as district attorney.
The Mississippi Supreme Court received a formal complaint Monday, July 6, from the Mississippi Bar requesting that former Hinds County District Attorney Jody E. Owens II be immediately suspended from the practice of law.
The compliant comes after Owens resigned from his position and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy on June 29 inside the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in connection with a Jackson bribery scandal.
A judge set Owens’ sentencing for 9 a.m. Oct. 15.
According to the complaint, the crime for which Owens entered a plea of guilty is a felony thus the court should “immediately suspend (Owens) from the practice of law.”
The Bar requested that Owens be immediately suspended from practice in the State of Mississippi “with all costs and expenses associated with the filing and litigation of this Formal Complaint being taxed against (Owens).”
The Bar also requested other such relief as the court deems proper.
Owens was charged in federal court as part of a broader public corruption investigation involving former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba and former Jackson City Councilman Aaron Banks.
A week after Owens pleaded guilty, Lumumba and Banks followed suit. Lumumba and Banks each pleaded guilty July 6 to one count of conspiracy related to the scandal.
Lumumba’s sentencing hearing is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 15. Banks is set to be sentenced at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 15.
Similar to Owens, Lumumba and Banks consistently denied wrongdoing after being indicted in 2024 and was scheduled to stand trial in mid-July.
Former Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee and local insurance specialist Sherik Marve’ Smith, an associate of Owens, also previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery in 2024. Their sentencing dates have been delayed indefinitely.
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.