The Mississippi Department of Human Services has sued NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre and a trio of ex-professional wrestlers in connection with a long-running dispute over their roles in promoting a taxpayer-funded program for the poor.
The lawsuit, filed Monday Hinds County Circuit Court, alleges the defendants “squandered” more than $20 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, part of what Mississippi Auditor Shad White has called the largest public corruption case in the state in decades. Favre had paid back speaking fees he was given for promoting the program, but the state claims he still owes $228,000 in interest.
“I love Mississippi and I would never knowingly do anything to take away from those that need it most,” Favre said in 2020, when the allegations first came to light that he accepted money but did not follow through on his obligations.
The lawsuit says retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre along with several other people “squandered” more than $20 million in money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families anti-poverty program https://t.co/zAlLFEiZH0
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) May 10, 2022
Monday’s lawsuit was filed weeks after a mother and son who ran a Mississippi nonprofit pleaded guilty to state criminal charges tied to the misspending. Nancy New, 69, and Zachary New, 39, agreed to testify against others in the case.
The case dates back to early 2020, when News 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. DiBiase is a defendant in the lawsuit, as are his father and brother, Ted DiBiase Sr. and Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr., who also were pro wrestlers.
Ted DiBiase Sr. was a prominent World Wrestling Federation star known as the “The Million Dollar Man” in the 1980s. He is now a Christian evangelist and a motivational speaker who was given a $1.7 million grant in 2017 and 2018 to promote the welfare program, according to the lawsuit.
Last year, White ordered DiBiase, Favre and others to repay $77 million of misspent welfare funds. Favre, who lives in Mississippi and was hired to promote the program, was ordered to return $1.1 million, which he did. The Green Bay Packers great has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.
White said Favre was paid for speeches but did not show up and still owes interest on the money he was paid. Favre has said he did not know the money he received came from welfare funds and has touted charity work his foundation has performed in the state as evidence he would never cheat the poor.
“I applaud the team filing this suit and am grateful the state is taking another step toward justice for the taxpayers,” White said. “We will continue to work alongside our federal partners — who have been given access to all our evidence for more than two years — to make sure the case is fully investigated.”
State prosecutors said Favre sought to have Nancy New use money from the program to fund Prevacus, a Florida-based company trying to develop a concussion drug in which Favre was the leading investor.
Favre allegedly hosted a Prevacus stock sales presentation at his home in January 2019, attended by VanLandingham, Davis, Nancy New, Zach New and Ted DiBiase Jr., though it was not clear if or how much money from the welfare program was diverted to Prevacus.