The Mississippi Department of Human Services on Monday indicted retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and three former professional wrestlers, along with several other people and companies, to try to recoup millions of dollars spent on welfare to help some to the poorest people in the United States.
The lawsuit alleges the defendants “embezzled” more than $ 20 million in money from the poverty alleviation program for families in need.
In early 2020, the case was filed against Nancy News, Zachary News, former Mississippi Department of Human Services director John Davis and three other people in a state court, prosecutors said used the money on welfare. improperly for articles like Malibu drug rehab, K. Former professional wrestler Brett Dibiasse.
Dibias is the defendant in a lawsuit filed Monday in Hinds County Circuit Court, along with his father and brother, who are also professional wrestlers, Ted Dibias Sr. and Ted “Teddy” Dibias Jr.
Ted Dibia’s senior wrestler is known as the “Million Dollar Man”. He is a Christian evangelist and motivational speaker and heads Heart of David Ministries Inc., which received a $ 1.7 million social grant in 2017 and 2018 for mentoring, marketing and other services, according to the cause.
White last year sought a $ 77 million relief fund paid by various individuals and groups, including $ 1.1 million paid to Favre, who lives in Mississippi. Favre was not charged with any crime.
White said Favre paid for the speeches but did not show up. Favre paid the money, but in October White said Favre still owed $ 228,000 in interest. In a Facebook post when he paid the first $ 500,000, Favre said he didn’t know the money he received came from social funds. He also said his charity has given millions of dollars to poor children in Mississippi and Wisconsin.
A few months ago, the auditor forwarded unsigned welfare claims to the Mississippi Attorney General’s office for enforcement. White said in a statement Monday that he knew the attorney general would sue eventually.
“Congratulations to the team that brought this lawsuit and I’m grateful that the state is taking another step toward taxpayer justice,” White said. “We will continue to work with our federal partners – who have had access to all of our evidence for more than two years – to ensure that the case is fully investigated.
A lawsuit filed Monday alleges Favre was formerly the largest individual investor and shareholder in Florida -based company Prevacus, which seeks to create a concussion drug. The lawsuit alleges that in December 2018, Favre invited Prevacus CEO Jake Vanlandingham to ask Nancy News to use social grant money to invest in the company.
The lawsuit also alleges that Favre hosted the sale of Prevacus parts at his home in January 2019, in the presence of Vanlandingham, Davis, Nancy New, Zack New and Ted Dibia Jr., and reached an agreement on a ” stock exchange “social.” Prevacus and its corporate subsidiary PreSolMD Inc.
The lawsuit alleges the shares were owned by Nancy News and Zack New, but also to the financial advantage of Favre, Vanlandingham and two other companies. The lawsuit seeks to seize a $ 2.1 million welfare subsidy overpaid to the two companies in 2019.
On Monday, the Associated Press called the number, which was previously listed for Favre Enterprises, and the record said it no longer works.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Governor Tate Reeves said in a joint statement Monday, “Our intent in this lawsuit is to seek redress for the lost trust of the people of Mississippi and return funds that were illegally spent.”
Davis was elected head of the Human Services Department in 2016 by the then government. Phil Bryant – who, like Reeves, Fitch and White, is a Republican. Davis retired in July 2019 and is awaiting trial on criminal charges of misappropriation.
In December 2020, Brett Dibias pleaded guilty to a number of misrepresentations. In court, he said he filed the papers and received full pay for work he did not do. He agreed to pay $ 48,000 in compensation and postponed his sentence.
Source: Huffpost
