Additional Coverage:
- Mississippi district attorney Jody Owens resigns after pleading guilty in federal bribery case: report (foxnews.com)
Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens resigned on Monday following his guilty plea in a major federal bribery case in Mississippi.
Owens admitted to a conspiracy charge during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Jackson, according to local reports. The charges against him, initially brought in October 2024, included conspiracy, federal program bribery, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.
The investigation began in 2022 when FBI agents conducted an undercover operation, posing as real estate developers planning to build a convention center hotel in downtown Jackson. Prosecutors allege that Owens accepted at least $115,000 in cash and promises of future financial benefits in exchange for using his influence to advance the project through city government channels.
Undercover recordings reportedly captured Owens discussing methods to bribe public officials and launder illicit funds through businesses and campaign donations.
Following his guilty plea, Owens announced his resignation on Facebook, effective July 1. He described the decision as “one of the most difficult” of his life, expressing deep regret but emphasizing that stepping down was the best choice for his family and the district attorney’s office.
“Serving as your District Attorney has been the privilege and honor of a lifetime,” Owens wrote. He also thanked those who supported his family during the ordeal and asked for continued prayers as they move forward.
A conviction on the conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. Owens is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15.
Neither the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi nor the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office provided immediate comments on the case.