Jackson aldermen react to recent arrest for bribery

JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Sherik Marve Smith is the second person charged with conspiracy to commit bribery in the Jackson bribery scandal. There are three other individuals who have not been named, according to court documents.

According to those documents, two of the co-conspirators are elected officials of the City of Jackson. The documents state that Smith and one of the co-conspirators agreed to give cash payments and campaign contributions to the two elected officials.

“It’s more important for the government to focus on following the laws and providing the services they’re expected to do in an honest and straightforward manner. And unfortunately, right now, there’s a big cloud over the government of the city of Jackson ” said Alderman Ashby Foote, Ward 1.

Second person charged in Jackson bribery scandal

The payments included $10,000 from the two FBI sources to one of the elected officials, according to court documents. The second elected official allegedly received a $10,000 check to his re-election committee using funds from the two FBI sources.

“I think once we move forward and get, you know, some of these people out of office who don’t know any better than to take a bribe, then I think we can focus on what the citizens really need.” said Alderman Vernon Hartley, Ward 5.

Foote is hopeful that the Department of Justice will reveal who these unidentified co-conspirators are and take appropriate action. Both Hartley and Foote agreed that the city has not been productive in meeting the needs of citizens in recent years.

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