The judge granted a motion to continue Jackson’s bribery case

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – A Jan. 6 trial date for three local government officials related to a plan to move a convention center hotel to Jackson has been pushed back.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan granted lawyers’ request to continue the case, acknowledging that the case is complex and that “the nature of the prosecution involves allegations that typically require extensive evidence.”

“Given that all parties perceive the case to be complex (and in fact it is) and need more time to prepare, the court specifically finds that ‘the ends of justice served by taking such action outweigh the best interests of society and the defendant( -that)”. in a quick process,” he wrote.

Jordan said new dates will be set once the parties agree on how many days will be needed for trial and jury selection. He added that the parties are obliged to submit this information to the court within 14 days.

The order came about a month after the indictments of Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, Sixth Ward Alderman Aaron Banks and Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens.

Owens faces eight charges, in part for helping to provide approximately $80,000 in bribes to city officials from out-of-state developers to support a convention center hotel. The out-of-state developers were confidential human sources within the FBI.

The mayor allegedly took $50,000 in bribes from the so-called developers in the form of donations to finance the campaign to shorten the response time of developers to the application for project qualification. He allegedly accepted the checks after flying on a private jet to a yacht in Ft. Lauderdale. After this meeting, he was given access to $5,000 to spend at a Miami strip club.

In January, the city issued a request for qualifications seeking developers interested in developing 7.75 acres across from the Jackson Convention Complex. Three companies responded, including Facility Solutions Team, a Tennessee front company.

Owens, who was listed as a partner in FST’s response to the request for proposals, filed the partnership’s incorporation documents on March 19, a few days after the deadline for responding to the request for proposals.

Meanwhile, Banks allegedly received approximately $10,000 in cash to support the project. He also boasted to FBI informants that he could use his position on the board to freeze salary increases if the RFP deadline was not extended.

All three pleaded not guilty to the charges at their arraignment earlier this month.

See all our stories from Jackson bribery program here.

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