Former WWE Superstar Ted DiBiase Jr. has been officially charged with multiple felonies in relation to the welfare fraud scandal in Mississippi. WAPT in Jackson, MS first reported the news.
The unsealed federal indictment states that DiBiase, Jr. is being accused of misappropriating millions of dollars that were intended for needy families.
He allegedly fraudulently obtained money from The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
The FBI, HHS-OIG, USDA-OIG, and IRS-CI are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Adrienne E. Rosen of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, Trial Attorney Della Sentilles of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dave Fulcher and John Meynardie for the Southern District of Mississippi are prosecuting the case.
The charges include one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering.
DiBiase Jr. faces up to 5 years in prison should he be found guilty for the conspiracy charge while he faces a maximum of 20 years for each fraud count. There’s more as he faces 10 years for every theft count that concerns “programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering.”
The prosecutors detailed what the former WWE star allegedly bought with the money:
“DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house, among other expenditures.”
DiBiase Jr. worked for WWE from 2006-2013. He retired from wrestling in 2017.
