Ted DiBiase Jr. acquitted on federal charges in Mississippi welfare case

A federal jury in Jackson on Friday found former professional wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr. not guilty of 13 federal charges tied to the largest welfare scandal in Mississippi history, court records show.

Prosecutors have said the scheme diverted money from programs meant to help poor residents, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Investigators have said about $94 million in taxpayer funds was misspent.

Court records and prosecutors say former Mississippi Department of Human Services Executive Director John Davis directed federal funds to two nonprofits run by Christi Webb and Nancy New. Prosecutors allege Webb and New then awarded sham contracts to various individuals and entities, including at least five contracts to companies tied to DiBiase, Priceless Ventures and Familiae Orientem. Davis, Webb, New and DiBiase’s brother, Brett DiBiase, have pleaded guilty to charges in the case, court records show.

Prosecutors also alleged DiBiase received taxpayer funds for services he did not provide and used some of the money for personal purchases, including a vehicle, a boat and a down payment on a house in Madison’s Reunion neighborhood. State Auditor Shad White, whose office uncovered the scandal, said, “While I’m disappointed in the result of the trial, nothing changes the fact that seven people have already pleaded guilty to state or federal charges because of the welfare scandal. My hope now is that the state’s lawyers will be able to recover as much of the misspent money as possible in civil court so hard-working taxpayers can see some accountability for what happened here.” DiBiase was acquitted after a trial that lasted more than two months, according to court records.

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