Former WWE wrestler Ted Dibiase Jr., the son of Ted “The Million Dollar Man” DiBiase Sr., has been charged with fraud and theft in connection with a Mississippi welfare scandal that misappropriated millions of dollars in federal safety-net funds.
According to a federal indictment authorities unsealed on Thursday, authorities charged DiBiase Jr., 40, along with co-conspirators, for allegedly fraudulently obtaining federal funds — including from The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program — using the funds intended for low-income families and individuals for their benefit.
“DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house, among other expenditures,” the DOJ said in a news release.
DiBiase Jr. wrestled with the WWE until 2013. Fans of the sports entertainment network best know him for his role as one of the three members of “The Legacy,” which included Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.
Authorities also named John Davis, the Mississippi Department of Human Services executive director, Christi Webb, the head of the Human Resource Center of North Mississippi Inc., and Nancy New, who ran the Mississippi Community Education Center, in the alleged scheme.
According to the Justice Department, Davis directed the Mississippi Department of Human Services to subgrant federal funds to the nonprofit organizations operated by Webb and New through “sham” contracts to the various people and entities to deliver social services.
At least five contacts were awarded to DiBiase’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC, which authorities said the former wrestler “did not provide and did not intend to provide” such social services.
Federal authorities charged DiBiase with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 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.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP
If convicted, DiBiase faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering.
DiBiase’s lawyer has not responded to media requests for comment.
The case dates back to early 2020, when New and her son, former Mississippi Department of Human Services executive director John Davis, and three others were charged with diverting welfare money to items such as drug rehabilitation for former pro wrestler Brett DiBiase.
According to Fox News, DiBiase Sr. founded the “Heart of Davis Ministry” in 1999, which allegedly received more than $2.1 million in welfare funds from the state of Mississippi after the Department of Human Services hired his son, Brett, as the deputy administrator.
The Mississippi Department of Human Services then sued the DiBiase family, NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, and others, to recover $20 million in “squandered” funds, which is considered the biggest fraud case in state history, Fox News reported.
Favre told Fox News in October 2022 that the media “unjustly smeared” him, adding he had “done nothing wrong.”