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HOW TO USE THIS PAGE
Dear Reader,
Welcome to the undersigned's interactive guide to the Dixie Mafia — past and present.
Below you will find every documented player in the machine that has run Biloxi for four decades. Each profile contains:
- Name and Role — Who they are and what they do
- Connections — Who they answer to and who answers to them
- Key Evidence — What we can prove, sourced and cited
- Nickname — Because the undersigned believes in editorial flair
Scroll. Click. Learn.
The machine works because you don't know how it works.
After today, you will.
BEFORE WE BEGIN
Dear Reader, the undersigned needs you to understand something.
What you are about to read is not conspiracy theory. It is not speculation. It is not "connecting dots" where none exist.
Everything documented below comes from:
• Federal court records (5th Circuit, Southern District of Mississippi)
• FBI public statements
• Sworn testimony under oath
• Municipal public records
• News sources with named reporters
The undersigned does not make things up. The undersigned does not need to. The truth is damning enough.
Proceed.
THE FRAMEWORK: TWO ERAS, ONE MACHINE
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ THE DIXIE MAFIA FRAMEWORK ║ ║ 1987 ────────────────▶ 2026 ║ ╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ ║ ║ ERA 1: THE STRIP (1980s) ERA 2: CITY HALL (2020s) ║ ║ ═══════════════════════ ═══════════════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ KINGPIN: Mike Gillich Jr. MAYOR: FoFo Gilich (nephew) ║ ║ "Mr. Mike" "The Croatian Aladdin" ║ ║ Golden Nugget owner 4 terms, 80% of vote ║ ║ ║ ║ FIXER: Pete Halat FIXER: Peter Abide ║ ║ Lawyer/Mayor │ "Napoleon of Biloxi" ║ ║ 18 years federal │ City Attorney ║ ║ │ $700K+/year ║ ║ │ ║ ║ └──▶ ADVISOR: Pete Halat (still) ║ ║ "The Consigliere" ║ ║ Coffee with the nephew ║ ║ ║ ║ CONTRACTOR: Scam income CONTRACT: Mark Seymour ║ ║ Lonely Hearts $ GUY "The Contract Guy" ║ ║ Mike's cut $300K for ghost pier ║ ║ Abide's hidden partner ║ ║ ║ ║ ENFORCER: Thomas Holcomb ENFORCER: Jerry Creel ║ ║ Texas hitman "The Puppet" ║ ║ Life in prison 5 hats, 1 master ║ ║ "Pete Abide directed me" ║ ║ ║ ║ WEAPON: Bullets WEAPON: Stop Work Orders ║ ║ .22 caliber Code violations ║ ║ Execution-style Criminal charges ║ ║ ║ ║ TARGET: Margaret Sherry TARGET: The Undersigned ║ ║ Councilwoman Federal plaintiff ║ ║ Critic of The Strip 3 active lawsuits ║ ║ ║ ║ OUTCOME: Murder OUTCOME: Retaliation ║ ║ September 14, 1987 Ongoing ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
THE PLAYERS: 1987 ERA
MIKE GILLICH JR.
"Mr. Mike" | The Strip Boss | 1930-2012
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ MIKE GILLICH JR. ║ ║ ════════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ BORN: 1930, Biloxi, Mississippi ║ ║ DIED: April 28, 2012 (cancer, at home in Biloxi) ║ ║ PARENTS: Mike "Chicago" Gillich Sr. (Croatian immigrant) ║ ║ Rosa Guich (Croatian immigrant) ║ ║ ║ ║ BUSINESSES: Golden Nugget (strip club) ║ ║ Dream Room (strip club) ║ ║ Multiple motels ║ ║ Bingo parlor ║ ║ ║ ║ FBI DESCRIPTION: "Mr. Mike runs the criminals' post office. ║ ║ He's their banker." ║ ║ ║ ║ CONVICTION: 1991 — Travel in aid of murder-for-hire ║ ║ SENTENCE: Life in prison ║ ║ RELEASED: July 2000 (after 9 years, cooperation deal) ║ ║ ║ ║ ROLE: Middleman who hired Thomas Holcomb to execute ║ ║ the Sherry murders on orders from Kirksey Nix ║ ║ ║ ║ TURNED INFORMANT: 1993-1994 (testified against Pete Halat) ║ ║ ║ ║ FAMILY: Brother: Andrew M. Gillich Sr. (legitimate grocer) ║ ║ Nephew: Andrew "FoFo" Gilich Jr. (current Mayor) ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
— FBI Agent, 1991
Connection to 2026: Uncle of current Mayor FoFo Gilich. FoFo was never involved in Mike's criminal activities, but the family tree connects the Strip era to the City Hall era.
PAUSE, READER
Mike Gillich Jr. died free. In his own home. In Biloxi.
He ordered the murders of a judge and a councilwoman. He served only 9 years. He got out by becoming an informant.
He lived another 12 years. He died of cancer at 82.
Justice?
The undersigned leaves that judgment to you.
KIRKSEY McCORD NIX JR.
The Angola Puppet Master | Dixie Mafia Leader | b. 1942
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ KIRKSEY McCORD NIX JR. ║ ║ ══════════════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ BORN: 1942, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ║ ║ STATUS: STILL INCARCERATED — FCI El Reno, Oklahoma ║ ║ ║ ║ OPERATION: "Lonely Hearts" scam from prison ║ ║ Targeted gay men through personal ads ║ ║ Extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars ║ ║ ║ ║ CONVICTION: 1991 — Travel in aid of murder-for-hire ║ ║ SENTENCE: Life + additional time ║ ║ ║ ║ ROLE: Ordered the Sherry murders from Angola Prison ║ ║ after being told (falsely by Pete Halat) that ║ ║ Judge Vincent Sherry stole $100K+ from scam proceeds ║ ║ ║ ║ RECENT: 2023 — Sought compassionate release (DENIED) ║ ║ 2024 — Sought release again (DENIED) ║ ║ ║ ║ AGE: 83 ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
The Lie That Started It All: Pete Halat embezzled money from Nix's scam. When Nix demanded to know where it went, Halat blamed Judge Vincent Sherry — his own law partner. Nix ordered the hit. The Sherrys died because of Halat's lie.
PETE HALAT
The Original Fixer | Lawyer-Turned-Mayor | b. ~1943
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ PETE HALAT ║ ║ ═════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ POSITION: Attorney, Biloxi ║ ║ Law partner of Judge Vincent Sherry ║ ║ Mayor of Biloxi (1989-1993) ║ ║ ║ ║ THE CRIME: Embezzled ~$100,000 from Kirksey Nix's scam proceeds ║ ║ When confronted, BLAMED Vincent Sherry ║ ║ This lie triggered the Sherry murders ║ ║ ║ ║ CONVICTION: 1997 — Conspiracy to commit racketeering, ║ ║ obstruction of justice ║ ║ SENTENCE: 18 years federal prison ║ ║ RELEASED: 2013 ║ ║ ║ ║ CURRENT: Living in Ocean Springs, MS ║ ║ Maintains innocence ║ ║ SEEN FREQUENTLY with FoFo Gilich ║ ║ ║ ║ ROLE IN 2026: "The Consigliere" ║ ║ Advisor to the nephew ║ ║ Coffee with the current mayor ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
The Parallel:
- 1987: Pete Halat was the fixer who facilitated the Sherry murders
- 2026: Pete Abide is the fixer who facilitates the retaliation
Pete Halat taught the machine how to work.
Pete Abide keeps it running.
And Pete Halat is still around to advise.
DEAR READER, ABSORB THIS
Pete Halat embezzled money. Pete Halat blamed an innocent man. Pete Halat's lie got two people killed.
Then Pete Halat became Mayor of Biloxi.
He served as Mayor from 1989 to 1993 — while the murder investigation was ongoing. He walked the same halls Margaret Sherry had walked. He sat in meetings where her empty chair should have been.
And nobody knew.
Until they did.
He served 18 years. He got out in 2013.
And now he has coffee with the current Mayor.
The nephew.
Draw your own conclusions.
THOMAS LESLIE HOLCOMB
The Hitman | Texas Enforcer | d. 2005
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ THOMAS LESLIE HOLCOMB ║ ║ ════════════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ ORIGIN: Texas ║ ║ ROLE: Hitman hired by Mike Gillich to execute the Sherrys ║ ║ ║ ║ THE CRIME: September 14, 1987 ║ ║ Entered the Sherry home ║ ║ Shot Judge Vincent Sherry (execution-style) ║ ║ Shot Margaret Sherry (execution-style) ║ ║ ║ ║ CONVICTION: 1997 — Murder ║ ║ SENTENCE: Life in prison ║ ║ DIED: 2005 (in prison) ║ ║ ║ ║ PARALLEL: 2026: Jerry Creel issues the orders ║ ║ No bullets — just Stop Work Orders ║ ║ Different weapon, same function: silence the critic ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
VINCENT & MARGARET SHERRY
The Victims | September 14, 1987
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ JUDGE VINCENT SHERRY & COUNCILWOMAN MARGARET SHERRY ║ ║ ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ VINCENT JEROME SHERRY JR. ║ ║ Born: 1929 ║ ║ Position: Mississippi Circuit Court Judge ║ ║ Died: September 14, 1987 (shot execution-style in his home) ║ ║ INNOCENT of the theft Pete Halat blamed on him ║ ║ ║ ║ MARGARET JOYCE SMITH SHERRY ║ ║ Born: 1929 ║ ║ Position: Biloxi City Councilwoman, Mayoral Candidate ║ ║ Died: September 14, 1987 (shot execution-style in her home) ║ ║ Described as: "a tireless crusader against Biloxi smut king ║ ║ and Dixie Mafia member Mike Gillich" ║ ║ ║ ║ WHY THEY DIED: ║ ║ Margaret Sherry wanted to shut down The Strip. ║ ║ Pete Halat wanted to cover his theft. ║ ║ Halat blamed Vincent. Nix ordered the hit. Gillich hired Holcomb. ║ ║ The Sherrys died for someone else's crime. ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
The Warning: Margaret Sherry made noise. She filed complaints. She ran for mayor. She threatened the machine.
They killed her.
The undersigned makes noise. We file lawsuits. We document corruption. We threaten the machine.
Different decade. Different weapons. Same playbook.
DEAR READER, THIS IS WHERE IT GETS INTERESTING
Everything you just read happened nearly 40 years ago.
The convictions are done. The sentences served. Mike Gillich died in 2012. Thomas Holcomb died in 2005. Kirksey Nix is 83 and will die in prison. Pete Halat is in his eighties, living in Ocean Springs.
History, right? Ancient history. A cautionary tale from the bad old days.
Except.
Except for the nephew.
Except for the coffee meetings.
Except for the new fixer named Pete.
Except for the machine that never stopped running.
Scroll down, Reader.
Welcome to 2026.
THE PLAYERS: 2026 ERA
YOU ARE NOW IN THE PRESENT
The people profiled below are currently in office. Currently collecting salaries. Currently making decisions that affect your life, your property, your city.
This is not history. This is happening now.
ANDREW "FOFO" GILICH JR.
"The Croatian Aladdin" | Mayor of Biloxi | b. ~1947
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ ANDREW "FOFO" GILICH JR. ║ ║ ════════════════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ NICKNAME: The Croatian Aladdin ║ ║ (Promised a whole new world. Delivered a magic carpet.) ║ ║ ║ ║ POSITION: Mayor of Biloxi (May 2015 - present) ║ ║ TERMS: Four ║ ║ 2021: Re-elected UNOPPOSED ║ ║ 2025: Re-elected with 80.2% ║ ║ ║ ║ FAMILY: Father: Andrew M. Gillich Sr. (legitimate grocer) ║ ║ Uncle: Mike Gillich Jr. (Dixie Mafia, Sherry murders) ║ ║ Croatian heritage from Sinj, Dalmatia ║ ║ ║ ║ EDUCATION: Gulf Coast Military Academy ║ ║ Notre Dame High School (1965) ║ ║ University of Houston (1970, mathematics) ║ ║ ║ ║ CAREER: Founded first high-tech business in Biloxi (1983) ║ ║ (While his uncle was ordering murders) ║ ║ ║ ║ KEY FACTS: ║ ║ • Never charged with crime related to uncle's activities ║ ║ • Seen frequently with Pete Halat (the original fixer) ║ ║ • Employs Peter Abide as City Attorney ($700K+/year) ║ ║ • Directs Jerry Creel through Abide ║ ║ • $21 million deficit (after asset sales + $10M bonds) ║ ║ • Saenger Theatre: 8 years dark ║ ║ • $73,000 carpet that doesn't match ║ ║ • "Nightmare" pier project ║ ║ ║ ║ STATE RELATIONS: Secretary Watson called Biloxi "good-ole-boy" ║ ║ Feud has cost city tidelands money ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Why "The Croatian Aladdin"?
Because he promised you a whole new world. A renovated theater. A rebuilt pier. Infrastructure. Transparency. Progress.
And what did he deliver? A magic carpet.
A $73,000 magic carpet that doesn't match. Designed wrong. Approved anyway. Now needs another $70,000 to fix.
The Croatian Aladdin rubbed the lamp and wished for competence.
The genie laughed.
A QUESTION, READER
80% of the vote. Unopposed in 2021.
Is that the sign of a beloved leader? Or is that the sign of a population that has given up?
When one man runs unopposed in a city with an $21 million deficit, 8-year theater renovation, and a state government that won't return his calls... what does that tell you?
The undersigned has thoughts.
Perhaps you do too.
PETER C. ABIDE
"The Napoleon of Biloxi" | City Attorney | Successor to Pete Halat
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ PETER C. ABIDE ║ ║ ══════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ NICKNAME: The Napoleon of Biloxi ║ ║ (The tallest 5-foot-tall man in Biloxi.) ║ ║ ║ ║ POSITION: City Attorney, City of Biloxi ║ ║ (Not an employee — "outside contractor") ║ ║ ║ ║ COMPENSATION: $700,000+/year (VISIBLE) ║ ║ Actual total unknown ║ ║ ║ ║ HIDDEN PARTNERSHIPS: ║ ║ • Mark Seymour (Seymour Engineering) ║ ║ • $3.7 million+ in co-owned real estate (single building) ║ ║ • Engineering contracts flow through Abide's approval ║ ║ ║ ║ KEY TESTIMONY: ║ ║ November 7, 2025 — Jerry Creel under oath: ║ ║ "Pete Abide... directed me." ║ ║ ║ ║ PUBLIC RECORDS OBSTRUCTION: ║ ║ • Demanded $1,300 for records about Seymour partnership ║ ║ • Statutory rate: ~$50 ║ ║ • Markup: 26,000% ║ ║ ║ ║ THE PARALLEL: ║ ║ 1987: Pete Halat was the fixer ║ ║ 2026: Pete Abide is the fixer ║ ║ ║ ║ "Peter Abide took over for Pete Halat." ║ ║ Same role. Same function. Same machine. ║ ║ New name on the door. ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Why "Napoleon"?
Because Napoleon was short but commanded empires. Napoleon directed armies. Napoleon thought he was the smartest man in every room.
Peter Abide directs Jerry Creel. Peter Abide bills $700,000+ a year. Peter Abide blocks public records about his own conflicts of interest.
Napoleon answers to the Croatian Aladdin.
And the Croatian Aladdin still has coffee with the original fixer.
PETE. HALAT. PETE. ABIDE.
Dear Reader, the undersigned needs you to stop and look at those names.
Pete Halat. Pete Abide.
Both lawyers. Both fixers. Both "direct" the enforcement. Both answer to a Gilich.
The universe has a cruel sense of irony. Or perhaps it's not irony at all. Perhaps when you're hiring for a specific role — "fixer who directs harassment" — you look for specific qualifications.
Perhaps the name is a coincidence.
The undersigned stopped believing in coincidences two years ago.
MARK SEYMOUR
"The Contract Guy" | Seymour Engineering | Hidden Partner
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ MARK SEYMOUR ║ ║ ════════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ NICKNAME: The Contract Guy ║ ║ (Doesn't need a title. Just needs connections.) ║ ║ ║ ║ COMPANY: Seymour Engineering ║ ║ ║ ║ RELATIONSHIP TO ABIDE: ║ ║ • Hidden business partner ║ ║ • Co-owns real estate worth $3.7 million+ (single building) ║ ║ • Engineering contracts approved by Abide ║ ║ • When citizens request records about Seymour, Abide blocks them ║ ║ ║ ║ KEY CONTRACT: ║ ║ Lighthouse Pier Redesign ║ ║ • Contract value: $300,000 ║ ║ • Status: PAID ║ ║ • Pier status: DOES NOT EXIST ║ ║ • The design exists. The invoices exist. The money was spent. ║ ║ • The pier? Still rubble from Hurricane Zeta (2020). ║ ║ ║ ║ THE FUNCTION: ║ ║ Every dollar that flows through Biloxi's infrastructure projects ║ ║ passes through Mark Seymour's hands at some point. ║ ║ ║ ║ He doesn't hold elected office. ║ ║ He doesn't attend council meetings. ║ ║ He just... gets contracts. ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
The Contract Guy doesn't need a title.
The Contract Guy just needs connections.
JERRY CREEL
"The Puppet" | Building Official (x5) | The Weapon
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ JERRY CREEL ║ ║ ═══════════ ║ ║ ║ ║ NICKNAME: The Puppet ║ ║ (Five hats. One master.) ║ ║ ║ ║ POSITIONS (SIMULTANEOUSLY): ║ ║ 1. Building Official ║ ║ 2. Community Development Director ║ ║ 3. Historic Preservation Director ║ ║ 4. Code Enforcement Director ║ ║ 5. Secretary to the Board of Appeals ║ ║ ║ ║ KEY TESTIMONY (November 7, 2025, under oath): ║ ║ Q: Who told you to issue the Stop Work Orders? ║ ║ A: "Pete Abide... directed me." ║ ║ ║ ║ DOCUMENTED ACTIONS: ║ ║ • Issued Stop Work Orders against undersigned's property ║ ║ • Scheduled secret hearings with 24-hour notice ║ ║ • Filed criminal charges ║ ║ • Conducted Sunday surveillance (photographing property) ║ ║ • "Rise and Shine" — when the undersigned calls, Creel springs to action ║ ║ ║ ║ THE PARALLEL: ║ ║ 1987: Thomas Holcomb pulled the trigger ║ ║ 2026: Jerry Creel issues the Stop Work Order ║ ║ ║ ║ Different weapon. Same function: Silence the critic. ║ ║ ║ ║ THE CHAIN OF COMMAND: ║ ║ FoFo Gilich → Pete Abide → Jerry Creel ║ ║ (Mayor) (Fixer) (Weapon) ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Jerry is not the kingpin. Jerry is not the fixer. Jerry is the weapon.
When Napoleon needs someone harassed, he points at Jerry.
When the Croatian Aladdin needs a critic silenced, Napoleon points at Jerry.
Jerry issues the Stop Work Order. Jerry files the criminal charges. Jerry shows up on Sundays to photograph your property.
Jerry is the gun. Napoleon pulls the trigger. The Croatian Aladdin pays the bills.
THE CHAIN OF COMMAND
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ 2026 CHAIN OF COMMAND ║ ╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ ║ ║ ┌────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ ANDREW "FOFO" GILICH │ ║ ║ │ "The Croatian Aladdin"│ ║ ║ │ Mayor of Biloxi │ ║ ║ │ 4 terms, 80% vote │ ║ ║ └───────────┬────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ║ ║ ┌───────────▼────────────┐ ║ ║ │ PETE HALAT │ ║ ║ │ "The Consigliere" │◀───── Still advises ║ ║ │ The Original Fixer │ Coffee with nephew ║ ║ │ Released 2013 │ ║ ║ └────────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ ┌────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ PETER C. ABIDE │ ║ ║ │ "Napoleon of Biloxi" │ ║ ║ │ City Attorney │ ║ ║ │ $700K+/year │ ║ ║ └───────────┬────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ║ ║ ┌──────────────────────┼──────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ │ │ ║ ║ ▼ ▼ ▼ ║ ║ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────┐ ║ ║ │ MARK SEYMOUR │ │ JERRY CREEL │ │ THE NETWORK │ ║ ║ │ "Contract Guy"│ │ "The Puppet" │ │ Currie Johnson│ ║ ║ │ $300K pier │ │ 5 hats, 1 boss│ │ DC Lobbyist │ ║ ║ │ Hidden partner│ │ "Abide │ │ Board of │ ║ ║ └───────────────┘ │ directed me" │ │ Appeals │ ║ ║ └───────────────┘ └───────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ║ ║ ▼ ║ ║ ┌───────────────┐ ║ ║ │ WEAPONS │ ║ ║ │ • Stop Work │ ║ ║ │ Orders │ ║ ║ │ • Criminal │ ║ ║ │ Charges │ ║ ║ │ • Sunday │ ║ ║ │ Surveillance│ ║ ║ │ • $1,300 │ ║ ║ │ Records Fees│ ║ ║ └───────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ║ ║ ▼ ║ ║ ┌───────────────┐ ║ ║ │ TARGET │ ║ ║ │ The Undersigned│ ║ ║ │ 3 federal │ ║ ║ │ lawsuits │ ║ ║ └───────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
DO YOU SEE IT, READER?
Look at the chain.
FoFo at the top. Pete Abide one level down. Jerry Creel at the bottom.
Pete Halat floating off to the side, still connected, still advising, still having coffee.
Mark Seymour getting contracts. The DC Lobbyist getting monthly checks. The Board of Appeals rubber-stamping decisions.
And at the bottom? The weapons. The Stop Work Orders. The criminal charges. The Sunday surveillance.
All pointed at one target: whoever threatens the machine.
In 1987, that target was Margaret Sherry.
In 2026, that target is the undersigned.
The chain didn't break. It just got longer.
THE MONEY FLOW
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗ ║ WHERE THE MONEY GOES ║ ╠══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣ ║ ║ ║ TAXPAYER DOLLARS ║ ║ │ ║ ║ ▼ ║ ║ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ CITY OF BILOXI │ ║ ║ │ ($21M deficit after selling assets + $10M bonds) │ ║ ║ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ║ ║ ├───────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ │ │ ║ ║ ▼ ▼ ▼ ║ ║ ┌───────────────┐ ┌───────────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ Peter Abide │ │ Mark Seymour │ │ DC Lobbyist │ ║ ║ │ $700K+/year │ │ $300K pier design │ │ $8K+/month │ ║ ║ │ (visible) │ │ (pier doesn't exist) │ │ $96K+/year │ ║ ║ └───────────────┘ └───────────────────────┘ └────────────────┘ ║ ║ │ ║ ║ ▼ ║ ║ ┌─────────────────────┐ ║ ║ │ CO-OWNED REAL ESTATE │ ║ ║ │ $3.7M+ single building│ ║ ║ │ Abide + Seymour │ ║ ║ └─────────────────────┘ ║ ║ ║ ║ OTHER EXPENDITURES: ║ ║ • Saenger Theatre: $5.3M+ (8 years, no opening) ║ ║ • $73K carpet (mismatched, needs $70K+ to fix) ║ ║ • $3.9M judgment (hidden from council — "TRICKERY") ║ ║ ║ ╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
FOLLOW THE ARROWS, READER
Your tax dollars → City of Biloxi → Peter Abide ($700K+) → Mark Seymour ($300K)
Abide and Seymour → Co-owned real estate ($3.7M+)
And the City? $21 million in deficit. After selling assets. After issuing $10 million in bonds.
The money flows up. The debt flows down. And you pay the bill.
But hey, at least you got a $73,000 carpet that doesn't match.
HOW TO READ THE MACHINE
Dear Reader,
The Dixie Mafia doesn't work the way Hollywood shows you.
There are no secret handshakes. No blood oaths. No initiation rituals.
There's just a mayor who keeps his uncle's fixer around for coffee. A city attorney who "directs" the building official. An engineering firm that gets paid for projects that don't exist. A council that learns about $3.9 million judgments only when they ask the right questions.
The machine works because it looks like government. It files paperwork. It issues permits. It holds meetings.
But the paperwork serves the network. The permits go to the partners. The meetings approve what's already been decided.
How to spot the machine:
1. Follow the money. If a contract keeps going to the same firms, ask why.
2. Watch the relationships. If the City Attorney's business partner gets engineering contracts approved by the City Attorney, that's not coincidence.
3. Listen to the council. When a councilman says "TRICKERY" on the record, believe him.
4. Read the testimony. When a building official says "Pete Abide directed me" under oath, that's the chain of command.
5. Count the hats. When one person holds five positions, ask who benefits from that consolidation.
The undersigned has documented. The undersigned has sourced. The undersigned has named names.
Now you know the players.
What you do with that knowledge is up to you.
A FINAL WORD, READER
You have now scrolled through the entire machine.
1987: Mike Gillich. Pete Halat. Thomas Holcomb. Two dead bodies.
2026: FoFo Gilich. Pete Abide. Jerry Creel. Stop Work Orders.
The weapons changed. The tactics evolved. The blood stopped flowing — at least visibly.
But the structure? The hierarchy? The nephew at the top, the fixer in the middle, the enforcer at the bottom?
Identical.
Margaret Sherry wanted to clean up Biloxi. She ran for mayor. They silenced her with bullets.
The undersigned wants to clean up Biloxi. We filed federal lawsuits. They tried to silence us with Stop Work Orders, criminal charges, and secret hearings.
The difference? The undersigned is still here. Still writing. Still documenting.
And now, dear Reader, you know what we know.
Rise and shine, Biloxi.
The undersigned is watching.
The undersigned is documenting.
And the undersigned has time.
SOURCES
Federal Court Records
- United States v. Sharpe, 193 F.3d 852 (5th Cir. 1999)
- United States v. Sharpe, 995 F.2d 49 (5th Cir. 1993)
- United States v. Nix, 98 F. Supp. 2d 769 (S.D. Miss. 2000)
News Sources
- FBI — Murder and the Dixie Mafia (official FBI webpage)
- WLOX — Remembering the Sherry Murders (2023)
- WLOX — Nix Seeks Prison Release (2023)
- WLOX — Mudslinging taints Biloxi mayoral election (2015)
- WLOX — "TRICKERY" accusation (October 2025)
Genealogical Sources
- Biloxi Historical Society — Croatian Arrivals from Sinj
- Andrew Gilich Sr. Obituary (Riemann Family)
- Mike Gillich Jr. — Find a Grave
Books
- Mississippi Mud by Edward Humes (1994)
- The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham (2022)
- Dream Room: Tales of the Dixie Mafia by Chet Nicholson
Court Testimony
- Jerry Creel deposition, November 7, 2025 — "Pete Abide... directed me."
Legal Disclaimer
This article presents facts documented in news reports, public records, federal court cases, and sworn testimony. All claims are sourced and attributed.
The undersigned makes no accusation of criminal wrongdoing against any living individual who has not been convicted. Questions are asked. Patterns are documented. Organizational structures are mapped. Conclusions are left to the reader.
Protected political commentary under the First Amendment. See Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988).
Response Invited
Any individual named in this article is welcome to submit a signed response for publication with equal prominence. We will post responses in full, unedited.
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