Jackson, Miss. A former professional wrestler is accused of misspending millions of welfare dollars in part Mississippi’s largest public corruption scandal The jury found him not guilty on Friday.
Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr. He was facing 13 charges of conspiracy, fraud, theft and money laundering.
A federal indictment accused DiBiase of fraudulently obtaining millions of federal welfare dollars and using the money for personal gain, including purchasing a car, boat and house as a down payment.
“While I remain confident in our case, I respect the jury’s verdict,” said U.S. Attorney Baxter Krueger. “I commend the prosecution team for their tireless efforts.”
DiBiase’s lawyers were not immediately available for comment when contacted by The Associated Press.
DiBiase, a WWE wrestler of the 2000s and 2000s, is the only person accused in the scandal to face trial.
The welfare scandal came to light in 2020 when the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, John Davis, was arrested. He is accused of fraud and embezzlement Along with several others, including DiBiase’s brother, former professional wrestler Brett DiBiase.
Federal indictments accused Davis of directing federal dollars to two nonprofit organizations, and then awarding “sham contracts” to various people and organizations, including several companies owned by DiBiase, in exchange for social services that were never provided.
DiBiase’s companies received contracts worth more than $2 million for services that included leadership outreach, emergency food assistance evaluation, and an inner-city youth program, according to the indictment.
Much of the money came from two federal safety net programs, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which were intended to help some of the poorest people in the country.
More than $77 million in TANF funds were misspent, according to the Mississippi state auditor.
Davismany Nonprofit executives and Brett DiBiase They have all pleaded guilty to charges related to the scheme.
The scandal has also ensnared several high-profile figures, including the former Mississippi State Governor Phil Bryant And a retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Both Bryant and Favre have denied any wrongdoing and neither has been charged criminally.
Favre, the DiBiase brothers and their father, former professional wrestler known as the “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase Sr., are among dozens charged in the case. lawsuit It was filed by the Mississippi Department of Human Services in an attempt to recover more than $20 million in lost funds.