Mississippi welfare funds scandal

The Mississippi welfare funds scandal, also known as the Mississippi welfare fraud scheme, was a major welfare fraud investigation from 2020 to 2023 in the U.S. state of Mississippi, in which several high-profile figures were implicated in allegations of misuse regarding federal welfare funds that were traced to the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The investigation also uncovered attempted laundering of the funds through 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, in attempts to conceal the fraud. Investigative journalist Anna Wolfe, who reported the scandal for Mississippi Today, won the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting in 2023.[2]

In February 2020, the office of the Mississippi State Auditor arrested six people it accused of mishandling federal funds disbursed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services, including the department's former director. In May, the auditor's office released a report identifying $94 million in questionable spending by the department, much of it being funneled through two nonprofits, the Mississippi Community Education Center and Family Resource Center of North Mississippi.

The auditing investigations found that the money was made available to several high-profile figures for various purposes, including three retired athletes: former professional football star Brett Favre and former wrestlers Brett DiBiase and Ted DiBiase Jr. The revelation of the state investigation also triggered a federal investigation.

Background

By the late 2010s, the Mississippi Department of Human Services annually received approximately $86.5 million from the United States federal government in a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. The federal government required the state of Mississippi to match what it spent of the grant with its own funds and stipulated that the state needed to document impoverished families who received direct cash assistance. It did not have strict reporting standards for how the state chose to use the grant otherwise. State audits regularly criticized the Department of Human Services for lax monitoring controls for federal grant spending.[3]

Misspending

Department funding of nonprofits

On January 11, 2016, Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant appointed John Davis as the director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services.[4] At the time, the agency was providing a record low number of recipients with direct cash assistance welfare in favor of other programs, such as job training classes. The department did not record who the classes served, and in many instances did not set income level eligibility requirements for class attendees. Davis halted the department's competitive bidding process for acquiring contractors and over four years ordered the agency to grant the nonprofit organizations Mississippi Community Education Center and Family Resource Center of North Mississippi $65 million and $45 million, respectively, to fund the Families First of Mississippi program. The nonprofits received the money upfront and not as reimbursements for tasks performed, as was most common for other nonprofits who worked with the department as TANF subgrantees.[3]

Brett Favre and Mississippi state officials

In 2020, Brett Favre's involvement with the development and promotion of a concussion treatment drug, Prevasol, by the Prevacus corporation, came under scrutiny. The nonprofit Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC) received $2.5 million in federal grant funds diverted from Mississippi's TANF welfare funds, as well as tens of millions in public funds as an element of the scheme. The Mississippi state auditor has termed the scheme "the largest public embezzlement case in state history". A grand jury in Hinds County indicted MCEC founder, Nancy New, and her son Zach in the scheme. Favre had introduced MCEC's founders to top state welfare officials.[5]

Bryant later alerted Mississippi State Auditor Shad White about possible fraud inside the Mississippi Department of Human Services.[6] Text messages between Favre, Bryant, and New also revealed how the departure of John Davis, who himself was found to have been involved in the funds scheme, from the Department of Human Services would be used to divert attention and aid funding for the stadium proposal.[7] Favre's daughter played for the school's volleyball team.[7] In addition, Favre was paid $1.1 million in fees for speeches he never delivered and securing $2 million in public funds for a biotech venture which he already invested in.[8][9][10] While Favre repaid the $1.1 million in two payments in 2020 and 2021, White sued him in early 2024 for nearly $729,000 in statutory interest.[11]

DiBiase family

Davis was close friends with retired professional wrestlers Ted DiBiase and his two sons, Ted DiBiase Jr. and Brett DiBiase, and encouraged the two nonprofits to compensate them for various services which the office of the Mississippi State Auditor later determined were not performed or did not serve to benefit needy Mississippians. Davis also frequently involved the DiBiases in department affairs and built a public agency motivational speaking program with Ted DiBiase Jr. that was funded by the nonprofits. From 2017 to 2019, DiBiase Jr.'s companies Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem were paid over $3 million by the organizations. During Davis' tenure, the Department of Human Services also awarded grants totaling over $2 million to the Heart of David Ministry, a nonprofit owned by Ted DiBiase.[3] The Northeast Mississippi Football Coaches Association was revealed to have received $30,000 in welfare money in early 2019 as a donation "in consideration of ... having Ted DiBiase Jr. as banquet speaker."[12]

On February 22, 2024 Ted's ex-agent (William J. Bruce III) opened up in an exclusive interview to discuss his thoughts on Ted's involvement where eWrestlingNews quoted him as saying, "it just doesn’t match the man that I’ve known. Ted, is careful in the sense that he wouldn’t do that, he has a real love for God and his wife. He just wouldn’t do that in my honest opinion."[13]

Prevacus

In December 2018, Jake VanLandingham, the owner of a Florida-based pharmaceutical startup company that developed concussion treatments, Prevacus, was introduced to an official at the Mississippi Community Education Center by a Mississippi investor. VanLandingham had several phone calls with nonprofit staff and a meeting before signing an agreement with the organization.[4][14] Text messages from November 2018 also revealed that Brett Favre, who had invested in the company since 2014, played a prominent role in connecting VanLandingham with Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.[15] Later messages suggested Bryant not only agreed to use welfare money as a source for project grant money, but also once sought to become an investor in Prevacus after his term as Governor ended.[15][16]

Other

The Mississippi Community Education Center used TANF funds to provide $5 million towards the construction of a volleyball stadium at University of Southern Mississippi (in the form of a brief lease for one event), paid a mortgage on a ranch in Flora, Mississippi, owned by former football player Marcus Dupree, and funded a fitness program run by former football player Paul Lacoste. Dupree was also paid by the Mississippi Community Education Center and Family Resource Center of North Mississippi for a statewide lecture tour.[3]

Auditing and criminal investigations

On June 21, 2019, following the conducting of an internal audit, concerned employees at the Department of Human Services informed Governor Bryant that agency funds may have been misspent. Bryant forwarded the information to State Auditor Shad White, who initiated an investigation.[14] Davis announced his retirement from the directorship the following month.[3] On February 5, 2020, following the delivery of indictments in the Hinds County Circuit Court, special agents from the office of the State Auditor arrested several people whom they accused of embezzling TANF funds: John Davis, Department of Human Services employee Latimer Smith, Brett DiBiase, and Nancy New, Zach New, Anne McGrew, officials of the Mississippi Community Education Center.[17][4] The defendants initially pleaded not guilty.[8]

Despite the involvement of federal funds, White did not inform any federal authorities about his office's investigation. U.S. Attorney for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Mike Hurst, stated in a press release: "We in the United States Attorney's Office and the FBI only learned ... from media reports about the indictments and arrests, at the same time the general public did."[18] White subsequently shared his office's findings with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and a federal inspector general.[14]

Following the arrests, the Department of Human Services announced it would require stringent documentation from subgrantees and began an internal inquiry to determine if any current agency employees were involved in the impropriety. In early May, White released the Single Audit of the department for the 2019 fiscal year. The auditor's office deemed $94 million of the agency's spending questionable.[3]

Brett DiBiase would plead guilty in December 2020 to making fraudulent statements and paid $5,000 in restitution.[19] As of September 2022, he was still not yet sentenced for his crime.[19] In April 2022, Nancy and Zach New pleaded guilty to charges of bribery of a public official, fraud against the government, and mail fraud.[19] Nancy New would also plead guilty to racketeering.[19]

In September 2022, Davis was indicted in a federal court and pleaded guilty court to one count of conspiracy and one count of theft from a federally-funded program. He then pleaded guilty in state court to five counts of conspiracy and 13 counts of defrauding the government. The state court sentenced him to 90 years in prison, with 58 of those years as a suspended sentence.[20]

On March 2, 2023, Brett DiBiase pleaded guilty to one federal charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States.[21] As of January 2026, he has yet to be sentenced for this charge and awaits his sentencing hearing.[22] On March 16, 2023, Christi Webb, former director of the nonprofit Family Resource Center of North Mississippi, pled guilty to one count of theft concerning federal funds[23] On April 20, 2023, Ted DiBiase Jr. was indicted in federal court on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and four counts of money laundering.[24] On January 7, 2026, Ted DiBiase Jr.'s criminal trial would begin at the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse.[25][26]

On January 20, 2026, one of Ted DiBiase Jr.'s attorneys opted to now seek a mistrial, as DiBiase's lead defense lawyer Scott Gilbert was now in poor health.[27] Due to Gilbert's poor health, DiBiase's trial was now stalled.[28] On January 28, 2026, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi Carlton Reeves announced that as a result of Gilbert's uncertain long term health and likely continued absence from the defense team at the recommendation of his physician, DiBiase's trial would be delayed until February 23, 2026.[29][30] However, Reeves would also deny the defense request to grant DiBiase a mistrial.[30] At the same time, it was also revealed that John Davis, who now had been serving as the star prosecution witness in Ted DiBiase Jr.'s trial, was now suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy.[30] On February 23, 2026, Ted DiBiase Jr.'s trial would resume after a month long delay.[31] After resuming, Judge Reeves would deny nother request from DiBiase defense lawyer Eric Herschmann to either delay the trial another six months or declare a mistrial would be denied.[31] In addition, on February 24, 2026, Davis managed to return to DiBiase's trial and would resume testifying on behalf of the prosecution.[32]

On February 25, 2026, Davis would provide text message evidence confirming the closeness of his relationship with the two DiBiase brothers and how he told them he would do anything to help them.[33] In addition to Davis, former Family Resource Center head Christi Webb and Mississippi Community Education Center Nancy New would also testify in late February 2026, with Webb beginning her testimony on February 26. Webb and New which each confirming that their organizations issued contracts to DiBiase and that he received money despite not fulfilling contract obligations and at best delivering one list and nothing else.[34] Davis would back Webb and New's testimonies and also acknowledged that he, out of a need to friendship with DiBiase, personally ordered Webb's organization to dole out money to him.[34]

On March 4, 2026, Mississippi Department of Human Services employee Bridget Bell testified that she found state accounting system records which showed that there were $900,000 in expenses a Ted DiBiase Jr.'s leadership program for a lavish gala, flowers, food, beverages and Polo jackets in DiBiase's leadership program.[35] In addition, former John Davis executive assistant Zola Harelson testified that he had an office at the Mississippi Department of Human Services headquarters in Jackson, despite not being a state employee, and even a state-issued cellphone.[35] The same day, it was announced that DiBiase's trial would not resume until March 16, 2026.[35] On March 16, 2026, DiBiase's trial would resume as scheduled.[36] [37] On this day, Kelly Kiker, chief information officer at BankPlus, would give testimony and verify checks and deposit slips which DiBiase had previously deposited through BankPlus branches in Madison and Rankin counties in 2018.[37] Among these deposits made by DiBiase Jr. included a check for more than $1 million at a Rankin County-based BankPlus on May 3, 2018.[37] FBI forensic accountant Matthew Ackerman, who investigated the matter, would also confirm that from 2017 to 2019, $2.9 million in welfare money had managed to successfully get transferred into two companies owned by DiBiase, with DiBiase spending $1.4 million on a new home, and more of this welfare money also being spent on things such as a new boat and tractor.[38][39] In his testimony, former Mississippi Department Health and Human Services chief legal counsel Earl Scales also noted that the amount of contracts DiBiase was given was against manual policy, though he also noted he was at the time not given the authority to review the contracts.[39] It was also announced that the prosecution was now wrapping up their case against DiBiase.[37]

On March 17, 2026, the prosecution in the case of Ted Dibiase Jr. would finally rest.[40][41] The same day, the defense would again file a motion to dismiss the charges against DiBiase Jr., only for Judge Reeves to once again reject this request.[42][43] DiBiaise Jr.'s defense then began calling witnesses, with Alabama software developer Kevin McLendon being the first witness to testify on behalf of the defense.[44][45][40][46] DiBiase Jr.'s defense had been slated to call at least two witnesses.[41] On March 18, 2026, the presiding judge informed the trial's jury that DiBiase's trial was close to its end.[44] The same day, the defense called its second witness New Orleans-based consultant Matt Theriot.[47] After calling four witnesses over a period of two days, DiBiase's defense would rest its case on March 18, with DiBiase not testifying.[48][49] While rebutting the defense, the prosecution would present a text message which contradicted defense witness Nicholas Coughlin and showed that DiBiase had in fact planned on pretending to not know how to form an LLC group.[50] On March 19, 2026, Judge Reeves would read jury instructions, with attorneys for both the prosecution and the defense delivering that day as well.[51][52]

Jury deliberations began March 20, 2026.[53] The same day, Dibiase would be acquitted on all charges.[54][55] Ted DiBiase Jr. would be the first, and potentially only, defendant in the Mississippi welfare funds scandal whose case resulted in a criminal trial.[56][34] The other remaining defendants in the scandal who were criminally charged have pleaded guilty and had agreed to aid the prosecution.[56]

Civil proceedings

In October 2021, the state auditor's office sent demand letters to various recipients of the misspent grant money, asking for repayment.[8] In May 2022, the Department of Human Services filed a lawsuit against 38 defendants to get back about $24 million in misspent funds. Former federal prosecutor Brad Pigott and the office of the Mississippi Attorney General represented the department. The defendants included Brett Favre, Marcus Dupree, Paul Lacoste, and the DiBiases.[57] On July 22, the director of the Department of Human Services, Bob Anderson, fired Pigott from his position as lead counsel on the state's lawsuit. Pigott alleged the decision was politically motivated.[58] Anderson initially attributed the dismissal to Pigott's failure to inform his superiors about his plans to subpoena documents concerning the volleyball stadium from the University of Southern Mississippi before saying that the state needed a larger legal team. Pigott was replaced the following month by attorneys from the firm Jones Walker.[59]

In August 2023, the Mississippi Supreme Court denied Brett Favre's request to be removed as a defendant from the civil lawsuit.[60] The decision came nearly four months after a Hinds County judge dismissed a similar request as well.[61][62]

Defamation lawsuit

Former governor Phil Bryant subsequently sued Mississippi Today, the outlet which broke the story, and its lead reporter, Anna Wolfe, alleging defamation.[63] The suit was dismissed in 2025.[64]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Supreme Court blocks Brett Favre's escape from welfare fraud lawsuit - Mississippi Today". August 10, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  2. ^ "Anna Wolfe of Mississippi Today, Ridgeland, Miss". www.pulitzer.org. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Wolfe, Anna (May 4, 2020). "'Increasingly absurd expenditures': Newly-released audit questions $94 million in DHS spending". Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Bologna, Giacomo; Ramseth, Luke (April 19, 2020). "How a drug company got welfare money". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 6A. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  5. ^ Wolfe, Anna (April 10, 2020). "Concussion drug company ensnared in welfare fraud scandal plans relocation to south Mississippi 'medical city'". Mississippi Today. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  6. ^ "In-Depth: How Brett Favre Secured $6 Million In Welfare Funds For A Volleyball Stadium". Mississippi Free Press. September 17, 2022. Archived from the original on September 18, 2022. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Wolfe, Anna (September 13, 2022). "Former Gov. Phil Bryant helped secure welfare funding for USM volleyball stadium, texts reveal". Mississippi Today. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  8. ^ a b c Pittman, Ashton; Pittman, William (September 16, 2022). "In-Depth: How Brett Favre Secured $6 Million In Welfare Funds For A Volleyball Stadium". Mississippi Free Press. Mississippi Journalism and Education Group. Archived from the original on September 19, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Vrentas, Jenny (September 26, 2022). "Brett Favre's Most Memorable Stat May Be $8 Million Meant for the Poor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 27, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  10. ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (September 22, 2022). "Mississippi Welfare Scandal Spreads Well Beyond Brett Favre". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  11. ^ Pequeño IV, Antonio (February 5, 2024). "Brett Favre Still Owes Mississippi Over $700,000 In Misspent Welfare Money, Auditor Alleges". Forbes. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  12. ^ Hunzinger, Erica (October 3, 2022). "Explainer: Favre, other sports figures in welfare fraud case". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  13. ^ Lowson, Thomas (February 22, 2024). "Exclusive: Ted DiBiase's Ex-Agent On Working With The WWE Legend, Ted Jr. Welfare Scandal". eWrestlingNews.com. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Ramseth, Luke; Bologna, Giacomo (April 19, 2020). "Emails tie Bryant, Farve to Prevacus". The Clarion-Ledger. pp. 1A, 6A. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Pittman, Ashton; Pittman, William (May 4, 2023). "Bryant Texts: Favre, Partner Sought Trump's Help Funding Drug Company Named In TANF Scandal". Mississippi Free Press. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  16. ^ Wolfe, Anna (April 4, 2023). "Phil Bryant had his sights on a payout as welfare funds flowed to Brett Favre". Mississippi Today. Archived from the original on July 3, 2024. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  17. ^ Wolfe, Anna (February 5, 2020). "Former welfare agency head, others arrested for embezzling millions intended for poor Mississippians". Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  18. ^ Pender, Geoff; Wolfe, Anna (May 12, 2022). "Former auditors question whether Shad White was too close to investigate Phil Bryant". Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c d "John Davis Pleads Guilty in Welfare Scandal". Mississippi Office of State Auditor. September 22, 2022. Archived from the original on October 29, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  20. ^ Pettus, Emily Wagster (September 22, 2022). "Former Mississippi welfare agency director pleads guilty to fraud". PBS NewsHour. NewsHour Productions. Associated Press. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  21. ^ Pittman, Ashton (March 2, 2023). "Wrestler Brett DiBiase Pleads Guilty to Federal Charge in Mississippi Welfare Scandal". Mississippi Free Press. Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  22. ^ Zarka, JP (January 8, 2026). "Inside Ted DiBiase's Family $77M Welfare Fraud Scandal". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  23. ^ Wolfe, Anna (March 17, 2023). "Nonprofit founder who helped officials raid Mississippi's welfare fund becomes latest witness for the feds". Mississippi Today. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  24. ^ Pettus, Emily Wagster (April 20, 2023). "Former wrestler charged in Mississippi welfare fraud case". Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 24, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  25. ^ Wolfe, Anna (January 8, 2026). "Opening statements in welfare scandal trial paint former director as villain who doled out millions over infatuation". Mississippi Today. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  26. ^ Dankins, Pam (January 6, 2025). "Jury selected in trial of ex-WWE wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr in MS welfare fraud case". Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Retrieved January 10, 2026.
  27. ^ Wolfe, Anna (January 20, 2026). "Defense for ex-wrestler seeks mistrial in welfare fraud case". Mississippi Today. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
  28. ^ Smith, Quentin (January 20, 2026). "Defense attorney's illness halts DiBiase welfare fraud trial; now asking for mistrial". WLBT. Retrieved January 21, 2026.
  29. ^ Thompson, Andrew (January 27, 2026). "Mississippi Welfare Scandal Trial Involving Ted DiBiase Jr. Paused Until February 23rd, 2026". Fightful. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  30. ^ a b c Judin, Nick (January 28, 2026). "Ted DiBiase Jr. Trial Delayed; Lawyer Alleges That Officials 'Fabricated Evidence,' 'Destroyed Recordings'". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved February 3, 2026.
  31. ^ a b Adams, Ross (February 23, 2026). "DiBiase welfare fraud trial resumes after month-long delay". WAPT. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  32. ^ Smith, Quentin (February 25, 2026). "DiBiase trial: Star witness returns as defense challenges evidence". WLBT. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  33. ^ Bourne, Richard (February 25, 2026). "'I will freaking die for you': Intimate texts shared in DiBiase welfare fraud trial". Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  34. ^ a b c Judin, Nick (March 13, 2026). "Ted DiBiase Jr. Delivered One List and Little Else in Exchange for Millions in Welfare Funds, Witnesses Testify". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  35. ^ a b c Adams, Ross (March 4, 2026). "Former MDHS assistant testifies DiBiase had office and state cellphone despite not being an employee". WAPT. Retrieved March 5, 2026.
  36. ^ Adams, Ross (March 16, 2026). "Ted DiBiase Jr.'s trial resumes in Mississippi over welfare fund charges". WAPT 16. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  37. ^ a b c d Adams, Ross (March 16, 2026). "Prosecutors near close in DiBiase Jr. trial after evidence of nearly $2 million in welfare deposits". WAPT 16. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  38. ^ Smith, Quentin (March 16, 2026). "Ted DiBiase Jr. spent welfare money on a $1.4 million home, boat and tractor, prosecutors say". WAPT 16 Jackson. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  39. ^ a b 16 WAPT News Jackson (March 16, 2026). "Prosecution winding down in Ted DiBiase Jr. trial". YouTube. Retrieved March 16, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  40. ^ a b "Prosecution rests in Ted DiBiase Jr. trial". WTVA Jackson. March 17, 2026.
  41. ^ a b "Prosecution rests in Ted DiBiase Jr. trial". WLBT 3 Jackson. March 17, 2026.
  42. ^ "Ted DiBiase Jr. welfare fraud trial: Judge denies motion to dismiss as defense begins case". WLBT 3 Jackson. March 17, 2026. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  43. ^ WJTV 12 Jackson (March 17, 2026). "Prosecution rests in Ted DiBiase Jr. trial". YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  44. ^ a b Adams, Ross (March 18, 2026). "Ted DiBiase Jr.'s defense puts on case as welfare fraud trial winds down". WAPT 16 Jackson. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  45. ^ Adams, Ross (March 17, 2026). "FBI accountant testifies DiBiase Jr. used shell companies to conceal Mississippi welfare payments". WAPT 16 Jackson. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  46. ^ West, Tommy (March 17, 2026). "Prosecution rests in Ted DiBiase Jr. trial". WJLT 12 Jackson. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  47. ^ Wolfe, Anna (March 18, 2026). "Ex-wrestler sought to gamify self-help for poor Mississippians, defense witness testifies in welfare scandal trial". Mississippi Today. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  48. ^ Adams, Ross (March 18, 2026). "Defense rests in Ted DiBiase Jr.'s welfare fraud trial". WAPT 16 Jackson. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  49. ^ Southern, Ashton (March 18, 2026). "Defense rests in Ted DiBiase Jr. trial". WJTV 12 Jackson. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  50. ^ Smith, Quentin (March 19, 2026). "DiBiase trial: Judge allows key message as evidence as both sides rest their cases". WLBT 3 Jackson. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  51. ^ Dankins, Pam (March 19, 2026). "Closing arguments held in former WWE wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr. fraud trial". Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  52. ^ Adams, Ross (March 19, 2026). "Ted DiBiase Jr.'s conspiracy trial nears jury deliberation". WAPT 16 Jackson. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
  53. ^ Smith, Quentin (March 20, 2026). "Did Ted DiBiase Jr. steal $2.9 million or earn it? Jury to decide". WLOX Biloxi. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  54. ^ Dankins, Pam (March 20, 2026). "Ex-WWE wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr found not guilty of all charges in fraud case". Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  55. ^ Judin, Nick (March 20, 2026). "Ted DiBiase Jr. Found Not Guilty of Crimes Over Receiving Millions in Mississippi Welfare Funds". Mississippi Free Press. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |accesdate= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  56. ^ a b Wolfe, Anna (January 5, 2026). "Ex-WWE wrestler faces feds in first – and potentially only – criminal trial in Mississippi welfare scandal". Mississippi Today. Retrieved March 17, 2026.
  57. ^ Wolfe, Anna (May 9, 2022). "State files lawsuit to recoup $24 million in welfare funds from Brett Favre, WWE wrestlers and 34 other people or companies". Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  58. ^ Wolfe, Anna (July 22, 2022). "State fires attorney probing former Gov. Phil Bryant in welfare scandal lawsuit". Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  59. ^ Wolfe, Anna (August 18, 2022). "Welfare agency hires new counsel for civil suit, defense attorney objects". Mississippi Today. Nonprofit Mississippi News. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  60. ^ Selbe, Nick (August 10, 2023). "Mississippi Supreme Court Denies Favre Dismissal of Welfare Scandal Lawsuit". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 12, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  61. ^ Gonzalez, Isabel (August 10, 2023). "Brett Favre will not be removed from civil lawsuit stemming from Mississippi welfare funds misuse scandal". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on August 14, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  62. ^ Wolfe, Anna (April 24, 2023). "Welfare case judge shoots down Brett Favre's attempts to dismiss charges". Mississippi Today. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  63. ^ Dilanian, Ken; Strickler, Laura (July 2, 2024). "She exposed how the nation's poorest state spent federal welfare money. Now she might go to jail". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 2, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  64. ^ "Judge dismisses former Mississippi governor's defamation lawsuit against news outlet". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.