The FBI conducted a raid on Wednesday at a local prosecutor’s office and business in Jackson, Mississippi’s capital city. However, officials have not revealed if there are any suspicions of wrongdoing involving Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens.
FBI agents dedicated several hours searching through a cigar bar that Owens owns in downtown Jackson. Additionally, they seized various items from his office located in the Hinds County Courthouse.
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According to Marshay Lawson, spokesperson for the FBI’s office in Jackson, the reason behind the search is still undisclosed.
According to Lawson, the FBI is currently carrying out federal search warrants at various locations. He mentioned that the court has sealed the affidavit supporting these search warrants, therefore he is unable to provide any further details.
Owens also failed to mention the purpose of the raid.
In a statement, the second-term district attorney revealed that earlier today, our offices were visited by FBI agents. We are actively collaborating with their ongoing efforts. Despite this development, I want to assure everyone that the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office remains fully operational and committed to carrying out our duties on behalf of the citizens of Hinds County.
Owens manages and owns the Downtown Cigar Co., a business that was searched by agents. Additionally, the company holds a state permit to serve alcohol as a bar.
Before his election as district attorney in 2019, Owens served as the lead attorney in Mississippi for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal-leaning organization recognized for initiating legal actions related to civil rights. Owens campaigned as a champion of criminal justice reform, emphasizing his commitment to prosecuting violent crimes and exploring alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders.
But Jackson has faced the nation’s highest murder rate, according to some reports. Owens, on the other hand, received additional funding from Republican lawmakers to strengthen the prosecution team. Republican leaders have also extended the reach of the state-run Capitol Police, overseen by Republican Governor Tate Reeves, to cover the entire city of Jackson. Furthermore, they have established a state-run court system with appointed judges instead of elected ones. Many Democrats argue that these actions amount to a white takeover of a predominantly Black city and believe that more resources should be allocated to crime prevention. Despite a legal challenge from the NAACP, the law was upheld in federal court, and tensions have somewhat subsided in recent months.
In 2022, the Capitol Police issued a citation to Owens for simple assault, a misdemeanor. According to the police, he allegedly aimed and pointed a gun at a man from Hattiesburg who was visiting a woman in a downtown Jackson apartment.
