Former Tunica-Biloxi Tribe Chairman Joey P. Barbry will appear in federal court before Magistrate Judge Joseph H.L. Perez-Montes on Tuesday, May 23, after recently being indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of theft from an Indian tribal organization. The indictment alleges Barbry wrote non-sufficient checks totaling more than ,000 to Tunica-Biloxi Financial Services, a check-cashing service at the tribe’s Paragon Casino and Resort in Marksville, Mississippi, between early July 2014 to mid-November 2014.
Following the May 11 indictment, Barbry was replaced by the tribe’s council by two members, Vice Chairman Marshall Ray Sampson Sr. and Secretary-Treasurer Beverly Chapman-Rachal who will serve as interim tribal administrators.
Sampson stated, “Our top priority is maintaining the smooth operation of tribal government in the best interests of our members.”
Barbry is the son of the late Earl Barbry Sr., who also was chairman of the tribe and actively pursued securing federal recognition for the tribe and establishing the casino.
