JACKSON, Miss. — A former director of Mississippi’s welfare company pleaded responsible Thursday to federal and state fees in a conspiracy to misspend tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} that had been meant to assist needy households in one of many poorest states in the US — a part of the most important public corruption case within the state’s historical past.
In federal court docket, John Davis pleaded responsible to at least one rely of conspiracy and one rely of theft from packages receiving federal funds. In state court docket a short while later, he pleaded responsible to 5 counts of conspiracy and 13 counts of fraud in opposition to the federal government.
Davis, 54, was an influential determine in a scandal that has produced felony fees in opposition to a number of folks, together with professional wrestler Ted DiBiase, often known as the “million greenback man,’ whose Christian ministry was ordered to repay greater than $720,000 in misspent welfare cash. The scandal additionally has raised questions on retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. Favre and Bryant haven’t been charged within the welfare misspending case.
Hinds County District Lawyer Jody Owens responded to questions Thursday about whether or not fees could possibly be introduced in opposition to Bryant or Favre.
“We’re taking a look at all people which have been recognized” in textual content messages or in different methods, Owens mentioned.
As chief of the Mississippi Division of Human Providers, Davis had direct management of federal funds that had been channeled to pet initiatives comparable to a brand new volleyball area on the college the place Favre’s daughter performed the game.
Davis was indicted on state fees in February 2020. He was re-indicted this spring on state fees that he participated in misusing welfare cash; that set of fees was dropped in alternate for Davis agreeing to plead responsible to the brand new, shorter record. Prosecutors mentioned Davis additionally agreed to testify in opposition to others within the case.
In state court docket Thursday, Choose Adrienne Wooten requested Davis to clarify why he had allowed the division to squander cash for the needy.
“You had been entrusted to do good by people who we think about ‘the least of these,”’ Wooten mentioned. “This court docket may be very disenchanted.”
The state court docket fees had been largely tied to welfare cash spent on one among Ted DiBiase’s sons, Brett DiBiase, who was additionally a professional wrestler. The spending included $160,000 for drug rehabilitation in Malibu, California; a $250,000 wage for a job he was not certified to do; $48,000 for him to show Division of Human Providers workers learn how to establish attainable drug use by folks looking for assist from the company; $8,000 for him to remain at an upscale lodge in New Orleans; and greater than $1,000 for first-class airfare for Davis to fly to Malibu to see Brett DiBiase.
In April, a mom and son who ran a nonprofit group and an training firm pleaded responsible to state fees of misusing welfare cash, together with on lavish items such because the first-class airfare for Davis. Nancy New and Zachary New ran the nonprofit group that paid the $250,000 to Brett DiBiase and that funneled welfare cash for his drug rehab. They agreed to testify in opposition to others.
In a state court docket submitting Sept. 12, an lawyer for one of many organizations run by Nancy and Zachary New listed textual content messages between retired Favre and Nancy New, between Favre and Gov. Bryant and between Bryant and New.
The messages confirmed discussions about thousands and thousands of {dollars} in welfare cash being directed to a pet challenge of Favre — a volleyball facility being constructed on the College of Southern Mississippi. Favre, Bryant and New all attended the college, and Favre’s daughter began enjoying volleyball there in 2017.
In response to one among many questions from Wooten, Davis mentioned Brett DiBiase was his pal. Davis additionally mentioned he used “very, very dangerous judgment” in spending public cash.
“I should not have accomplished it,” Davis mentioned.
Wooten gave Davis a 90-year sentence with 58 of these suspended and 32 to serve. She put Davis on home arrest till his federal sentencing, set for Feb. 2. He faces as much as 15 years on the federal fees.
U.S. District Choose Carlton Reeves mentioned he hopes Davis makes higher choices any further.
The federal fees had been handed down Sept. 15, however remained sealed till Wednesday. Davis waived indictment and agreed to plead responsible.
Davis was government director of the Mississippi Division of Human Providers from February 2016 by way of July 2019. He was appointed by Bryant, a Republican.
The federal fees say Davis conspired with 4 different folks, who aren’t named. Courtroom paperwork describe two of the alleged conspirators as government administrators of organizations, one because the proprietor of two firms and one solely as a resident of Hinds County, Mississippi. The capital metropolis of Jackson is in Hinds County.
The conspiracy fees say one group paid practically $498,000 to one of many firms in June 2018. A couple of days later, that firm entered a $1.1 million contract with the opposite firm “purportedly in alternate for making a program to serve inner-city youth.” The fees additionally say the identical group paid $700,000 that summer season to the corporate with the youth program contract.
The theft fees say Davis misused federal grants of greater than $10,000.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
