Former Columbus Ward 2 City Councilman and Vice Mayor has been arrested
MICKENS COUNTY, Ala. (WCBI) – Former Columbus Ward Two City Councilman and Vice Mayor Joseph Mickens has been arrested.
According to the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Mickens is charged with Laundering a Monetary Instrument and Offering Inducements to Influence an Award of Contracts.
The case was investigated by the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office and presented to the recent Lowndes County Grand Jury.
The Grand Jury indicted Mickens and another man, Marcus Trent Dawson, Senior.
Dawson, the owner of HVAC and Mechanical Company LLC, is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Laundering a Monetary Instrument and Conspiracy to Offer Inducements to Influence an Award of Contracts.
Dawson turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office this morning.
According to the court documents, Mickens and Dawson are accused of engaging in a scheme to defraud the public and enrich themselves.
Mickens is accused of conspiring with Dawson to manipulate city contracts for flooring contracts Mickens wasn’t eligible to receive, in exchange for future H-VAC contracts for Dawson, and cash payments that they would allegedly launder.
Mickens, a flooring contractor, represented Ward Two on the Columbus City Council from 2009 to 2025 when he was defeated for re-election by Roderick Smith.
He was arrested this morning.
Mickens was in court for his arraignment and initial hearing this morning. A bond hearing is scheduled for this afternoon.
