Murder. Heists. Extortion. Bootlegging. Gambling rings. A loosely knit group commanded by whoever had the most money. One rule all were expected to obey: “Thou shalt not snitch to the cops.”

You may know them better as the Dixie Mafia, a Biloxi-based group of traveling criminals that started in the 1960s, notorious for violence, corruption and participating in high-profit robberies and contract killings.

During their reign, the Dixie Mafia was spread across the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida and up to the Carolinas, and had reported activity in many cities within this region. The group originally started with bootlegging before moving into illegal gambling, drug smuggling and more violent crime. In the 1970s in Biloxi, the Dixie Mafia reportedly controlled illegal gambling.

Curious about the Dixie Mafia and their history of crime? These podcasts, movies and books relive the Dixie Mafia’s reign over the MS Coast and the surrounding South.

Podcasts

“Crime Capsule” — This podcast covers true crime stories in American history, including three episodes about the Dixie Mafia’s bootlegging past in Mississippi. Episodes one, two, and three are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify — just scroll down to their episodes from December, 2021.

“Gone South” — This true crime documentary podcast won the Edward R. Murrow Award and focuses its second season on the Dixie Mafia in Biloxi. The season’s central character is outlaw Kirksey Nix, the Dixie Mafia’s alleged leader. If you want to listen to this deep dive into Biloxi’s criminal past, you can listen here on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

“In the Red Clay” — Hosted by Sean Kipe, this true crime podcast has been telling stories about the Dixie Mafia since 2020. The show was started on stories of Billy Sunday Birt, a serial killer and key member of the mafia who was convicted of three murders (but some believe he committed many more). Listen to this podcast on the “In the Red Clay” website, on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

“Southern Fried True Crime” — Want to hear about Biloxi nightclubs, gambling, and a 1987 murder of a circuit court judge and his wife? Check out episode 91 of this podcast, which covers the Dixie Mafia, the Sherry murders and corruption in Biloxi. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Movies and TV

“Cornbread Cosa Nostra” — This 2018 film based on true events takes viewers back to the 1980s and 90s as FBI Agent Kurt Cadell and his partner Roy fight to take down the Dixie Mafia on the Coast. It’s available to stream for free on Tubi, or you can rent it on Amazon Prime for $2.99.

“Moonshine and the Dixie Mafia” — This three episode documentary series goes into the history of the deep South, with tales about moonshine, bourbon, stock-car racing, bootlegging and the Dixie Mafia. You can stream for free on Tubi and Plex or you can rent it for $0.99 an episode on Amazon.

Books

“Mississippi Mud” — This true crime novel based on real events follows main character Lynne Sposito, who finds out that her parents Vincent and Margaret Sherry have been shot to death in their Biloxi home. With the investigation in chaos, only one thing is known for sure about the murder: it is connected to the Dixie Mafia. Read more about the story here on Goodreads.

“The Boys from Biloxi” — John Grisham’s newly released novel explores the darker side of Biloxi’s past through the lens of two childhood friends. One’s father became a prosecutor with the goal of cleaning up crime on the Coast, while the other’s father became the leader of Biloxi’s criminal underground. Grisham explores a time in Biloxi’s past full of corruption, gambling, bootleg liquor, and contract killings, all controlled by a small gang of mobsters rumored to be Dixie Mafia members. Read more about the story here on Goodreads.

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