JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI - MAYOR LUMUMBA CLAIMS "I HAVE NEVER CONSPIRED WITH ANYONE TO COMMIT A CRIME"

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba responded Monday to claims that he could be one of the three remaining unidentified co-conspirators involved in a bribery scheme that has brought down one city councilwoman.

“With respect to any allegations or speculation on that, I have never conspired with anyone to commit a crime,” he said. “There may be a time and place where I will expound on that at an appropriate moment, but at this point in time, that’s all I have to represent.”

Lumumba spoke to reporters at a media briefing on Monday, where he responded to questions regarding the recent bill of information released on Sherik Marve’ Smith.

The Hinds County businessman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery last week in U.S. District Court in connection with a scheme to seek city officials’ support for a convention center hotel project.

Smith was the second domino to fall in the investigation. In August, former Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge after she took nearly $20,000 in cash and gifts from FBI sources posing as developers.

According to the bill of information, there are at least three more unindicted, unnamed co-conspirators, including two elected city officials, one of whom received a $10,000 contribution to his re-election campaign to direct a city employee to move the date developers could request to the city’s request for qualifications.

The mayor is the only elected official in the city who can direct city employees, per state statute. The council can direct the Clerk of the Council and clerk staffers.

When asked if he was associated with Smith, Lumumba said he had met him “a couple of times.”

“I don’t know what associated means, but, once again, I would direct anyone to those who are hosting that particular investigation,” he said, referring to the reporter’s question.

When pressed, Lumumba would not say whether he received a $10,000 campaign donation, reiterating his earlier comments. He also would not answer whether he is being investigated by the FBI.

“It doesn’t matter how many questions or the variation of the question, my response is going to be the same, and that is, quite simply, I have never conspired with anyone to commit a crime,” he said.

Meanwhile, the mayor says he has not filed an updated campaign finance report since 2022. Court records show the bribes were paid between October 2023 and May 2024.