FBI Raids Local Businesses, Including District Attorney’s Own, in Mississippi

On Wednesday, multiple businesses in Jackson, including one owned by Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, were raided by the FBI’s Jackson office. The businesses targeted included Downtown Cigar Company LLC and Downtown Daiquiri and Pizza.

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s website reported that crime scene tape was seen surrounding the Downtown Cigar Company LLC on Pearl Street. However, Jody Owens was not immediately available for comment during the raids. The FBI agents, along with Capitol Police, were seen surrounding the businesses for several hours.

According to an FBI spokesperson Marshay Lawson, federal search warrants were being executed at multiple locations, and the affidavit supporting the warrants had been sealed by the court. It is unclear what prompted the raid or what specific allegations are being investigated.

Jody Owens was elected as Hinds County’s District Attorney in 2019 after previously working as the managing attorney at the Mississippi office of the Southern Poverty Law Center. He was reelected to the office in November 2023. In a separate incident in 2022, Owens was accused of pointing a gun at Joshua Towns of Hattiesburg. Towns claimed to have been visiting his “lady friend” when Owens allegedly entered the apartment and pointed a gun at him. The woman was said to be an employee in Owens’ office, but Owens denied all allegations at the time.

This story is still developing, and further details may emerge as the investigation progresses.