Marshall Pierite | Chairman
Marshall Pierite is the founder and owner of the Pierite Group, LLC, a Louisiana-based company offering business advisory services. A native Louisianan, Marshall began his career by serving in the United States Marine Corps with a military occupational specialty in administration, gaining insights into native American politics. Following his military service, he worked for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana as a medical clerk, actively participating in a native American PAC. After receiving progressive promotions within the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana’s Health Department, he was promoted to Director of the Tunica-Biloxi Social Services Department.
While serving in the Social Services Department, Marshall also became a member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council. For more than 20 years, he held several elected positions on the Council including Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-Chairman, and Chairman of the Tribe. Over the course of his time on the Council, he worked on government operations, budgeting, infrastructure development, economic development, community development and tax policy development. Marshall became well versed in government operations throughout Indian Country, federal regulations, government-to-government negotiations, and relationship building between governmental organizations and private entities. He was recently elected to serve as the Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. Through this position, he hopes to establish unity and purpose, create wealth and jobs, and provide accessibility and accountability to the members of the tribe.
Concurrent to Marshall’s service in Tribal government, he also excelled in several leadership positions in corporate governance. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of MobiLoans, a financial services corporation. Under Marshall’s leadership, MobiLoans grew from a small start-up company to a multi-million dollar national financial service institution. As Chief Executive Officer, he oversaw a multi-million dollar portfolio all while creating workforce development opportunities for the citizens of Louisiana. Due to his outstanding service, Marshall was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of MobiLoans, a position he currently holds.
Marshall has also served in key positions on a number of boards and committees with private, Tribal, and non-profit organizations, further demonstrating his wide-ranging influence in the realm of native American politics. He has served as Chairman and co-chairman of the Board of Carcieri Task Force; Board Member of the United States Chamber of Commerce/NAEI; Board Member of the United South and Eastern Tribes; Board Member of the National Online Lending Alliance Board; Liaison Officer to Tunica-Biloxi Economic Development Corporation; Mentor to Tunica-Biloxi Youth Council and Committee Member of the United South and Eastern Tribes Social Services Program. Pierite is an advocate for leading the initiative to help regulate tribal lending. It was through his leadership that the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Lending Commission was formed. He is also one of the founding members of the Louisiana chapter of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce and founder of The Young Adult Leadership Council for Native American country.
Marshall R. Sampson, Sr. | Vice Chairman
Marshall Ray Sampson, Sr. serves as Vice Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. He has served on the Tribal Council as a Council Member-at-Large since the spring of 1997. An employee of Paragon Casino Resort since its opening in June 1994, Sampson now holds the position of Assistant General Manager of Operations. Prior to joining Paragon Casino Resort, Mr. Sampson held positions within the University of Southwestern Louisiana Computer Science Department, serving as Computer Operator, Workshop Instructor, and Computer Assistant.
Sampson offers over 21 years in Tribal Government Operations, Gaming, Information Systems, Marketing, and Hospitality administration. He also has a Computer Science Degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana with a minor in Business Administration and possesses extensive management, oversight, strategic gaming position planning and competitive analysis expertise. Sampson’s in-depth experience encompasses marketing, operations, budgeting, employee training, business development, community relations, and expense control.
A native of Avoyelles Parish, Sampson is a graduate of Southwestern University of Louisiana, now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He has served on numerous community and pan-Native American boards on local and regional levels. Mr. Sampson is a member of Our Lady of Sorrow Catholic Church in Moreauville, La. Mr. Sampson has three sons, Deaontrae Sampson, Dayton Sampson, and Marshall R. Sampson Jr.
Beverly Chapman-Rachal | Secretary-Treasurer
Beverly Chapman-Rachal serves as Secretary-Treasurer of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. Before her role with the tribal council, Rachal worked in the insurance industry and later joined Paragon Casino Resort as executive administrative assistant, a position she’s held for more than five years. A native of Houston, Texas, Rachal lived on the Tunica-Biloxi reservation in Marksville where she attended and graduated from Marksville High School. Balancing an active lifestyle of work and family, Rachal currently resides in Marksville, La. with her husband Byron Rachal. She has two daughters, Nikki Lemoine and Lauren Abadie, and five grandchildren. Beverly's commitment extends beyond her role, fostering a strong connection to the community and the values of Native American tribes.
James Craig III | Councilman
James Craig III serves as Tribal Councilman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. He was elected in 2020. In his capacity as Council Member, he serves on the Gaming Authority Board. With over 19 years of military and professional leadership experience, his expertise includes governance, operation & program management, Indian gaming, human resources, budget development, training & development, performance management, strategic planning, operational security, and business opportunity development.
Mr. Craig was born and raised in Chicago, growing up with the rich culture of the Tribe through his elders and the members living in the area who ensured their tenacity of Tunica-Biloxi traditions were maintained. He advocates across Indian Country on behalf of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe in many affairs, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to achieve the Tribe’s objectives for growth, economic development, and honoring their motto, Cherishing our past and building for our future. During his tenure, Mr. Craig has been instrumental to the Tribe’s diversity inclusion and COVID-19 relief efforts, single-handedly overseeing $28 million in COVID-relief to tribal members in Louisiana, coordinating those efforts with the Louisiana National Guard, and procuring, purchasing, and distributing COVID supplies to Texas and Illinois. In 2020 he submitted a resolution to condemn racism within the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe in time of strife. Additionally, he provides government oversight to $73 million in restricted and unrestricted assets for the Tribe and reconsolidated $167 million in debt for Paragon Casino.
Serving in the United States Army, United States Air Force Reserves, and ARMY National Guard since 2003, Mr. Craig is a decorated Veteran, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, serving as an Interrogation Operations Sergeant overseeing a special team of soldiers that conduct interrogations for international matters. During his military career he has served two deployments to Iraq in Operation: Iraqi Freedom and one deployment to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom, holding titles of Infantry Team Leader and Security Forces Squad Leader, earning over 16 military awards.
Mr. Craig strongly believes in education. He is in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in government contracting and acquisition, holding an associate degree in business and economics, technical degrees in combination welding and motorcycle technician, along with over 59 certifications in tribal governance and military programs. He previously worked for Bank of America, MB Financial, and Harley Davidson. Today, Mr. Craig resides in Marksville, LA on the Tunica-Biloxi reservation.
Bobby Pierite, Sr. | Councilman
Bobby Pierite, Sr., an Associate Commissioner for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Gaming Commission, boasts over 24 years of service, overseeing the Licensing, Inspector General, and Investigation Divisions. A Marksville native, Pierite graduated from Marksville High School and attended Louisiana State University at Alexandria. Beyond his professional commitments, Pierite is deeply involved in community service, serving as Vice President of the Tunica-Biloxi Housing Committee and as a Grand Knight for the Knights of Peter Claver. His dedication extends to addressing Native American issues today, reflecting a commitment to the well-being of the community.
Harold Pierite, Sr. | Councilman
Harold Pierite, Sr is a native of Avoyelles Parish. Pierite is the Chief of Police for the Tunica-Biloxi Police Department and has served in this capacity for 23 years. In 2017, Pierite was appointed by Governor John Bel Edwards to the Louisiana State Police Commission, representing the State’s 5th Congressional District. Chief Pierite is a 1992 graduate of the Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy and also received his Post State Certificate that same year. Previous experience includes employment as a Mansura Patrol Officer from 1991-1995; Patrol Officer for the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office from 1991-1997 and a Tunica-Biloxi Police Officer in 1991, serving in some of these positions simultaneously. Pierite also serves on the Board of Directors for Mobiloans, LLC and for Peachtree Entertainment. In addition, he has served on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council for more than 15 years.
Chief Pierite is an honorable man who holds the upmost respect for law. He is a by-the-book leader who is widely known for running a “tight ship” in his department. Pierite’s respect for discipline and firmness is why the Tunica Biloxi Police Department is an effective unit of law.
He is married to Heather Walters-Pierite and has three children. He is a faithful and life-long member of the Simpson Baptist Church. In this capacity, he serves as the church treasurer.
