Former WWE superstar Ted DiBiase Jr has been found not guilty in a Mississippi fraud case after being accused of purchasing a home and boat with illegal funds.
DiBiase Jr, who is the son of WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr, has been acquitted by a Magnolia State jury, meaning he will not serve a 185-year prison sentence.
The 43-year-old former WWE star, who competed between 2007 and 2013, had been accused of redirecting funds through contracts and non-profits for personal gain and faced 13 charges – one count of conspiracy, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programmes receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering.
The Mail reports that it was alleged that DiBiase’s companies received funds from the Emergency Food Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programmes, before it was claimed that the funds in question were ‘misappropriated for their own use and benefit’.
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DiBiase Sr and Brett Favre, a former NFL quarterback, were also allegedly connected to the case and were sued by the state of Mississippi to recover lost money.
Favre denies any wrongdoing and has never been subject to charges or arrest. DiBiase Sr also denies wrongdoing.
After being found not guilty on all charges, DiBiase Jr cut a relieved figure, breaking down in tears before telling the gathered media: “I believe they got it right.
“I give all glory to God. I give all the credit to my Lord and Saviour, to (Attorney) Sydney Lampton, (Attorney) Scott Gilbert, and (Attorney) Eric Herschmann. I thank them. They did an amazing job of portraying truth.”
DiBiase Jr maintained that he had obtained the funds legally throughout the 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 added.
“It still hasn’t sunk in. It’s been so long that this cloud has lived over me. I’m just thankful for it to be over, and I’m grateful I get to go home.”
When asked what his life may look like now that he has been cleared of all charges, DiBiase Jr replied: “I’m going to live again. 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.”
Luke Davies