Downtown Jackson Partners | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Downtown Jackson Partners

Stories about the Downtown Jackson Partners, the Business Improvement District and the case against Ben Allen

City & County

DA Smith Wins on One Count, But Passes on 'Whistleblower' Bad Check Claims

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The trial against Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen wound up on Feb. 7, even as the woman who landed him there remained conspicuously absent from the courtroom.

City & County

UPDATED: Jury Finds Allen Guilty for Cell-phone Payment, Not Guilty on Nine Counts

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The jury in the trial of Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen found him guilty on one count, not guilty on nine others after six hours of deliberation.

City & County

Allen Trial: Defense Rests After Making Case DJP Doesn’t Collect 'Taxes’

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Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith spent the morning attempting to attack several aspects of Downtown Jackson Partners attorney Robert Gibbs, during the fifth day of testimony in the trial of DJP President Ben Allen for allegedly embezzling and mishandling public resources.

Crime

DJP Board Attorney Gibbs Takes Stand to Defend Ben Allen's Actions

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Robert Gibbs, the attorney for Downtown Jackson Partners, took the stand this morning in the trial of DJP President Ben Allen in the same courtroom where he presided as a Hinds County circuit judge for more then seven years.

Crime

'Never in This Courtroom': Allen Trial Twists, Turns with Accuser Absent

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Over the last two days, the prosecution tried hard to convince a Hinds County jury that President Ben Allen mishandled public money while leading the Downtown Jackson Partners business improvement district.

Crime

UPDATED: DA Smith Puts Ben Allen on Trial Jan. 30, DJP Suing 'Whistleblower' Claiming Forged Checks

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The trial of Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen, who faces 10 counts, including embezzling a 1989 Chevy truck and tens of thousands of dollars from the business improvement district, is set to begin Jan. 30.

State

UPDATED: In Allen Trial, DA Argues that DJP Funds Are Public

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The trial of Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen began this morning with opening statements and testimony from an attorney who formerly worked with the state auditor's office asserting the money DJP collects from downtown property owners is public money.

Business

Ben Allen’s Defense Hangs on DJP’s Public/Private Status

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Whether Downtown Jackson Partners is public or private, governmental or nonprofit, is a pivotal issue in the case against indicted DJP President Ben Allen.

Crime

UPDATED: Ben Allen Trial Set for Jan. 30; Hinds DA Indicted Him, State Investigators

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The trial of Downtown Jackson Partners Executive Director Ben Allen, who has been accused on 10 counts, including embezzling a 1989 Chevy truck and tens of thousands of dollars from the development group, is set to begin Jan. 30.

City & County

DJP President Ben Allen Indicted, State Auditor and DJP Slam Hinds County DA Investigation

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Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering says Hinds County District Attorney Robert S. Smith must drop indictments against two of his employees.

Business

Measuring Progress: The Evolution of Downtown Jackson Partners

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Downtown Jackson Partners President Ben Allen resembled a proud father during a presentation to downtown property owners at the Mississippi Museum of Art on May 26. A video displayed images of a vast cityscape, streets filled with smiling young professionals and renovated lofts.