Additional Coverage:
- Verdict reached for ex-WWE star accused of misusing millions in welfare funds (the-independent.com)
Former Pro Wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr. Acquitted in Mississippi Welfare Scandal
Jackson, MS – Former professional wrestler Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr. has been found not guilty on all charges stemming from Mississippi’s most extensive public corruption scandal, which involved the alleged misuse of millions in welfare funds. A jury delivered the verdict on Friday, acquitting DiBiase Jr. of 13 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, theft, and money laundering.
Federal prosecutors had accused DiBiase Jr. of fraudulently obtaining millions of federal welfare dollars and diverting them for personal expenditures, such as a vehicle, a boat, and a down payment on a home.
U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger acknowledged the jury’s decision, stating, “While I remain confident in our case, I respect the jury’s verdict.
I commend the prosecution team for their diligent efforts.” DiBiase Jr.’s legal representatives did not provide immediate comment following the verdict.
DiBiase Jr., who wrestled for WWE in the 2000s and 2010s, was the only individual charged in the far-reaching scandal to proceed to a jury trial. The controversy first surfaced in 2020 with the indictment of John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, along with several other individuals, including DiBiase Jr.’s brother and fellow former pro wrestler, Brett DiBiase.
Indictments alleged that Davis funneled federal funds to two nonprofits, which subsequently issued “sham contracts” to various entities, including several companies owned by DiBiase Jr., for social services that were reportedly never rendered. DiBiase Jr.’s companies allegedly received over $2 million for services such as leadership outreach, an emergency food assistance assessment, and a program aimed at inner-city youth.
These funds originated from federal safety-net programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which are designed to assist the nation’s most vulnerable populations. The Mississippi state auditor reported that more than $77 million in TANF funds were misspent.
John Davis, multiple nonprofit executives, and Brett DiBiase have all pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme. The scandal has also drawn in high-profile figures like former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre, both of whom deny any wrongdoing and have not faced criminal charges.
Favre, the DiBiase brothers, and their father, Ted DiBiase Sr., famously known as “The Million Dollar Man,” are among dozens named in a civil lawsuit filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services, which seeks to recover more than $20 million in misspent funds.
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- Verdict reached for ex-WWE star accused of misusing millions in welfare funds (the-independent.com)