Former Jackson mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, who led the capital city of the U.S. state of Mississippi, and former city council president Aaron Banks pleaded guilty in a corruption scheme case a week before the start of the trial, the Associated Press reports.

On Monday, Lumumba and Banks pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy. Their pleas came after Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens also pleaded guilty last week and resigned. All three are members of the Democratic Party.

Earlier, two other people — former Jackson City Council vice president Angelique Lee and businessman Sherik Marv Smith, a relative of Owens — pleaded guilty to bribery charges.

According to the indictment issued in November 2024, Owens received at least $115,000 from two FBI agents posing as developers and also facilitated the transfer of more than $80,000 in bribes to Banks, Lumumba and Lee.

Prosecutors say the money was paid in exchange for the officials’ help in securing approval for a construction project.

Lumumba, Banks and Owens face up to five years in prison. Sentencing hearings are scheduled for October 15.

Lumumba had previously described the charges as politically motivated prosecution. He lost his bid for reelection in last year’s election.