Barry Stokes (embezzler)

Barry R. Stokes is a former business owner currently jailed in Nashville, Tennessee awaiting trial for stealing millions of dollars from retirement plan accounts that his company was managing.

In 2003, Stokes was one of the hosts of a $1,000-a-head fundraiser for former North Carolina Senator John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign. [http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2003/6/5/presidential_hopefuls_to_swing_through_nashville ref to come]

In 2004-05, Stokes promoted himself nationally as the "Consumer Driven Guy," advocating the adoption of consumer-driven health insurance plans across the country. [cite news| url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/300709/consumer_driven_guy_barry_stokes_comments_on_walmart_joining_the/index.html | title='Consumer Driven Guy' Barry Stokes Comments on Wal-Mart: Joining the Healthcare Revolution | publisher=Business Wire Retrieved on 2008-03-05 | date=2005-11-09]

On September 15, 2006, NashvillePost.com reported that a large amount of 401(k) money, as well as Stokes himself, had gone missing from 1Point. [cite news| | last=Lawson first=Richard, last=Wood | first=E. Thomas | authorlink=E. Thomas Wood | and | last=Duncan first=Walker url=http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2006/9/15/dickson_401k_advisor_sued_for_losing_retirement_funds | title=1Point's woes: Assets, founder missing at benefits firm| publisher=NashvillePost.com Retrieved on 2008-03-05 | date=2006-09-15]

Stokes was placed under arrest on October 13, 2006, following an appearance in bankruptcy court. On November 8 of that year, Middle Tennessee's U.S. District Court handed down an indictment of Stokes on six counts of embezzling retirement plan funds.

Even then, however, Stokes' criminal career was not yet over, according to the government. [cite news| last=Wood | first=E. Thomas | authorlink=E. Thomas Wood | url=http://www.nashvillepost.com/news/2007/5/10/stokes_reindicted_on_a_raft_of_new_charges | title=Stokes re-indicted on a raft of new charges | publisher=NashvillePost.com Retrieved on 2008-03-06 | date=2007-05-10]

External links

* [http://www.nashvillepost.com/news?categories=Barry%20R.%20Stokes News stories about Barry Stokes] from NashvillePost.com

References