Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre is among a group of other individuals and businesses being sued by the Mississippi Department of Human Services in an attempt to recover millions of welfare dollars. The lawsuit, which The Athletic has obtained, says the defendants “squandered” more than $20 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families anti-poverty program.
The Associated Press first reported this story.
The department filed the suit against Favre and the group less than two weeks after Nancy and Zachary New (mother and son) pleaded guilty to state criminal charges for their involvement in the misspending. The two operated a nonprofit group and education company and agreed to testify against Favre and others.
The suit filed Monday claims Favre pushed Prevacus CEO Jake VanLandingham to ask Nancy New to use welfare money to invest in Prevacus, a for-profit biotechnology company. Per the suit, Favre was at one time the largest individual outside investor and stockholder of Prevacus. The suit claims the three came to an agreement one day after New and VanLandingham spoke that funds would be pushed to Prevacus. According to the suit, “all such parties knew and agreed that any investment in Prevacus which would take place as a result of that sales presentation would be funded by governmental grant funds received by New and Defendant MCEC from MDHS.”
Per the suit, Favre also received more than $1 million for autographs and four speaking appearances that Favre never showed up to perform. Favre is attached to $3.2 million worth of damages, according to the suit.
In the AP report, the former quarterback said on Facebook that he repaid $500,000 and didn’t know the money he received was from welfare funds.
Favre hasn’t been criminally charged.
Former pro wrestlers Ted DiBiase Sr., known as “The Million Dollar Man,” along with sons Ted DiBiase Jr. and Brett DiBiase and former Oklahoma star running back Marcus Dupree are named in the lawsuit.
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