New details have emerged in the ongoing federal welfare fraud trial of former professional wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr., with testimony and evidence offering a closer look at the relationships prosecutors claim were central to the alleged scheme.
According to reporting from 16 WAPT News Jackson, a series of personal text messages exchanged between Ted DiBiase Jr., his brother Brett DiBiase, and former Mississippi Department of Human Services director John Davis have now been presented in court as evidence. Prosecutors say the communications help illustrate the unusually close relationship between the parties, which they argue played a role in the alleged misuse of federal welfare funds.
The messages, some dating back to 2018, were introduced by the prosecution to support claims that professional boundaries between the DiBiase brothers and the senior state official were blurred. Prosecutors described the relationship between Davis and Brett DiBiase as “almost romantic-like” during court proceedings.
Several of the texts highlighted during testimony involved emotional exchanges between Brett DiBiase and Davis. In one message shown to the jury, Brett wrote:
“I don’t know where I stand with you… Every time I think of you, I want to be with you.”
Davis replied in another message presented in court, writing:
“I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Another text from Brett read:
“It’s only when I’m with you [that] I feel safe enough to sleep.”
While testifying in court, Davis acknowledged the closeness of their relationship, telling the jury that he “got very close to Brett” during that period. Prosecutors also presented messages involving Ted DiBiase Jr. himself. In one exchange from July 2018, Davis wrote to the former WWE performer:
“I will freaking die for you.”
DiBiase Jr. responded:
“It would be my honor to die for you, bro.”
How These Messages Affect The Ongoing Ted DiBiase Jr. Trial
The prosecution argues that this level of personal loyalty contributed to the approval of lucrative contracts awarded to Ted DiBiase Jr. during Davis’s tenure at the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
According to Davis’s testimony, he used his position to pressure leaders of nonprofit organisations involved in distributing welfare funds to award contracts to DiBiase Jr. Among those mentioned were New School Summit founder Nancy New and Family Resource Center director Christi Webb.
Prosecutors allege that Davis pushed for DiBiase Jr. to receive nearly $500,000 through one contract and an additional half-million-dollar agreement through New’s nonprofit organisation.
The government claims those contracts were approved despite a lack of oversight regarding how the funds were used. Testimony in court indicated that DiBiase Jr. did not provide receipts or documentation showing how the money had been spent.
Despite that, Davis reportedly admitted that he “kept pushing to make sure DiBiase Jr. got more contracts.”
At the centre of the case is approximately $2.9 million in federal funds that prosecutors say were funnelled to DiBiase Jr. through what investigators have described as sham contracts. The agreements were reportedly tied to social services work, including motivational speaking and leadership programmes, though prosecutors argue the contracts were used to divert funds for personal benefit.
The money involved in the case came from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programme, commonly known as TANF. Prosecutors claim the funds were used to support personal purchases, including a new car, a boat and a home in Madison, Mississippi.
The case is part of a much broader investigation into the Mississippi welfare scandal, which has been described as the largest public embezzlement case in the state’s history.
In 2023, Brett DiBiase pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States for his role in the alleged scheme involving the diversion of TANF funds. Prosecutors have referenced that guilty plea as part of their case as the trial against Ted DiBiase Jr. continues.
Court proceedings are ongoing, with additional testimony expected as the prosecution continues presenting evidence related to the alleged misuse of welfare funds.
As with all criminal proceedings, DiBiase Jr. is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
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