Choctaws’ outside auditor quits, won’t say why

CHOCTAW — Price Waterhouse Coopers has quit as outside auditor for the casinos run by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians.

The Clarion Ledger reported that the firm would not say why, citing policy on client matters.

The firm’s decision came at the same time FBI agents subpoenaed records from Beasley Denson, the tribe’s chief, who has been kicking off his re-election campaign in various Choctaw communities. His office would not comment to the newspaper.

In July, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded $200 million in securities borrowed by the Choctaw Resort Development Enterprise to junk bond status. That came two days after an FBI raid at the Pearl River Resort near Philadelphia during which agents seized hard drives and computers.

FBI agents took both hard drives and documents from the casinos on July 12. Denson, chief of the tribe, told The Clarion-Ledger earlier that FBI warrants named Atlanta-based Mercury Gaming Group and its marketing arm, the Titan Agency.

Mercury manages the Pearl River Resort along with the Choctaws’ Bok Homa casino in Jones County.

The FBI has declined comment.