Former WWE Superstar Brett Dibiase, the son of “The Million Dollar Man” Ted Dibiase, pleaded guilty to charges of embezzlement stemming from the Mississippi DHS scandal. Back in February, Brett had been accused of embezzlement with five others to defraud the Mississippi Department of Human Services. Brett was paid $48,000 by the DHS as the business Restore2 and used several false and fraudulent statements to receive payment. He also falsified documents, ledgers and invoices to cover up payments from former DHS workers.
The DHS workers were paying Dibiase for teaching drug awareness classes that he didn’t actually teach. During that time, Brett was in a rehab facility in California for opioid addiction (the irony!).
Brett agreed today to plead guilty and pledged that he would be paying $5,000 as restitution for all the money he had previously received. This first payment will pay off court costs, followed by all those who were affected by his actions.
Shad White, a Mississippi State Auditor, released a statement regarding the guilty plea.
“My staff and I applaud the work of District Attorney Owens and his team for their work on this case. This felony plea represents another important step forward in achieving justice for the taxpayers and the other victims of this scheme.”
Anna Wolfe, a job security officer for FOIA Officers, wrote the following piece on Twitter regarding Dibiase’s plea deal.
BREAKING: Brett DiBiase is pleading guilty to making fraudulent statements. He is the former pro wrestler charged within what @MSStateAuditor calls the largest public embezzlement case in state history. His luxury drug rehab stay was allegedly paid for with #TANF welfare dollars. pic.twitter.com/pf1FtC2h4G
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) December 17, 2020
The charge deals with $48,000 he received under a contract with @MS_DHS for work he didn’t complete.
In pleading guilty to fraud, conspiracy charge is dropped. He’s agreed to help the state in its remaining cases. Sentencing delayed. He also presented $5k in restitution today.
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) December 17, 2020
I wish I could say that’s $5,000 welfare dollars (out of up to $94 million in questionable purchases) returned today, but in Mississippi, restitution payments go first to pay off court costs before the money is paid to victims.
— Anna Wolfe (@ayewolfe) December 17, 2020
While his father, “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and older brother Ted DiBiase Jr. were listed in an audit of the scheme as having been paid “for work that was not performed, for unreasonable travel costs, or with little proof the programs helped the needy,”. They have not been charged for any crime as of this time.
