The ex-WWE star who was accused of using federal funds earmarked to social services for “needy families” to pay for his luxury lifestyle, including buying a million-dollar home, was found not guilty on Friday.
Ted DiBiase Jr. fought back tears after a Mississippi jury cleared his name from the state’s largest-ever public corruption scheme, declaring he was going to “live again.”
“I’m going to live again,” DiBiase told WLBT after the hearing. “I’m going to continue to serve people because that really is who I am. I do care about every Mississippian and to all the doubters or haters or people that have maybe had false information and not all the information, I forgive you and I love you too.”
DiBiase, the 43-year-old son of WWE legend Ted DiBiase Sr., had been facing decades in prison on 13 charges that included wire fraud, theft of receiving federal funds and money laundering.
He had been accused of misusing roughly $3 million to purchase a $1.4 million home, a $55,000 pontoon boat, a $34,000 Kubota tractor and a $40,000 truck.
“I believe they got it right,” he said. “I give all glory to God. I give all the credit to my Lord and Savior. I thank (my team) they did an amazing job of portraying truth.”
Friday’s verdict ended a seven-year-long case that culminated with a 20-day court trial.
“Seven years of being slandered and made to be something that is completely false has about torn my family apart but we’re strong,” he said.
DiBiase was the only defendant wrapped up in the embezzlement scheme who did not accept a plea deal, instead opting for a trial by jury.
During the trial, DiBiase’s defense team asked for all for charges be dropped, arguing the prosecutors had not shown enough evidence to convict him.
The retired WWE performer had allegedly conspired with John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, to receive $2.9 million awarded to his businesses through “sham contracts,” according to prosecutors.
Davis, who had pleaded guilty to both state and federal charges in the scandal, dispersed money from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Fellow co-conspirators Christi Webb and Nancy New would then award the funds through the “sham contracts” to different businesses, including five owned by DiBiase.
DiBiase was tasked with creating an app for the Mississippi Department of Health.
Prosecutors accused DiBiase of violating his contract and “misappropriating millions of dollars in federal safety-net funds intended for needy families and low-income individuals in Mississippi” when the app was never finished.
Davis claimed he knew DiBiase was not capable of meeting the terms in his contract but still directed the money to him using funds both men knew were for welfare needs, according to the outlet.
The massive fraud scheme has swept up an estimated $77 million allegedly distributed to celebrities and athletes alike, including NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre, ex-University of Oklahoma star Marcus Dupree, along with Dibaise’s father and brother, Brett.
The State of Mississippi has sued 38 people to recover $24 million in misappropriated funds.
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