JACKSON, MS COUNCILWOMEN ANGELIQUE LEE PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT BRIBERY CHARGES

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - A former Jackson city councilwoman has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery, a charge that was made public just hours after she resigned.

Around lunchtime on Wednesday, former Ward 2 Councilwoman Angelique Lee was seen walking to the Thad Cochran Federal Courthouse, where she was set to answer for her involvement in a scheme to accept bribes in exchange for her support for a downtown Jackson development.

Hours later, she had pleaded guilty to a federal charge.

The plea came just hours after Lee submitted her resignation to Council President Virgi Lindsay on Wednesday morning. She was in her first full term. She received a $10,000 appearance bond.

According to court documents, she accepted more than $13,000 in cash and thousands of dollars more in luxury items she purchased using a credit card from an FBI source posing as a developer.

She faces up to 5 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

According to the filings, as councilwoman, Lee accepted more than $5,000 in bribes in exchange for her support of a real estate development in downtown Jackson and for the closure of a road related to the same project.

The five-page document stated that the individuals offering the bribe included two confidential sources posing as a real estate developer from Nashville, both of whom were employed by the FBI.

Bribes included cash, deposits, and other gifts from the individuals. Payments were “funneled” to Lee through a bank account owned or controlled by an unnamed co-conspirator in the case. Lee also was allowed to use the credit card of one of the FBI sources to make purchases.

Payments include a $10,000 electronic transfer from the FBI sources to pay off a portion of Lee’s campaign debt, a $3,000 cash payment on March 27 of this year, and $6,000 in credit card charges made at a “luxury retail store in the city of Jackson.”

In July, WLBT reported that Lee’s checks had been garnished to pay off nearly $21,000 in printing debt racked up by her campaign.

Lee will be required to forfeit any and all property or proceeds obtained through the criminal actions, including $13,654 in currency, a pair of Valentino wedge sandals, a Christian Louboutin tote bag, earrings, and other items.

The news comes months after federal agents raided a business owned by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. The agents also visited his office at the Hinds County Courthouse.

It’s unclear why the FBI conducted the raids. However, two council members told WLBT they had met with Owens and developers this spring, weeks before those raids occurred.

Documents obtained by WLBT showed that Facility Solutions Team LLC, a firm owned by Owens, responded to the city’s request for qualifications to build a convention center hotel downtown. As of Wednesday, no firm had been selected.