Former WWE star Ted DiBiase Jr is facing a staggering 185 years behind bars after being accused of "misappropriating millions of dollars in federal safety-net funds".
DiBiase, the son of the former WWE Hall of Famer 'The Million Dollar Man' Ted DiBiase Sr, has a legal case ongoing in relation to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft concerning programs with federal funds, wire fraud, money laundering, and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.
The 43-year-old is alleged to have stolen millions of misused funds for the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program - which were then used to buy a raft of luxuries, including the down payment on a $1.4 million home, a $55,000 pontoon boat, a $34,000 Kubota tractor and a $40,000 truck, according to AL.
Prosecutors have called the case Mississippi’s largest-ever public corruption scheme, with DiBiase alleged to have been given $3 million between 2017 and 2018 by John Davis, a former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services and a co-conspirator.
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Davis pleaded guilty to both state and federal charges and has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for his state crimes, with additional punishment set to follow.
According to the New York Post, The State of Mississippi has sued 38 people to recover a total of $24 million in misappropriated funds.
It's estimated that $77 million was allegedly awarded to a number of celebrities in a huge fraud scheme, with DiBiase's brother Brett facing up to five years after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States.
Older brother Ted is the only defendant involved who is contesting his charges and though he is not testifying in court, he argued that not enough evidence had been shown to convict him.
The prosecution rested their case on Tuesday before the judge dismissed a motion filed with the intention of having the serious charges removed.
The defence followed suit and now the trial is entering the closing arguments stage, with DiBiase set for a mammoth sentence in the event of being found guilty.
Josh Lawless