In a development that could affect Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre, key figures in the unfolding Mississippi welfare misuse scandal signed a plea deal Thursday with state and federal prosecutors. .
In a deal announced by the U.S. Department of Justice, John Davis, former director of the Mississippi Department of Social Services, said on Thursday that he had misdirected more than $70 million in welfare funds allocated to help the state’s welfare fund. started pleading guilty to playing his role in the scheme. the poorest residents. In exchange for the plea, Davis is expected to cooperate with investigators seeking additional charges for fraud.
Davis’ cooperation is believed to be important to state and federal prosecutors seeking information about other individuals who may have been involved in various stages of the misdirection of funds. Those inside include multiple unnamed (so far) co-conspirators with Davis.
Favre is under media scrutiny for about $8.1 million in welfare funds allegedly donated to organizations associated with the former NFL star. $5 million was spent directly on public speaking, $5 million to build a volleyball facility at Favre’s alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, and another $2 million to a pharmaceutical startup in which Favre is involved as an investor.
Ferb paid back $1.1 million for unfinished speaking engagements, but not the accrued interest that prosecutors sought. His attorney denied the former NFL quarterback knew welfare funds were being used for his endeavours. His plea deal allowed Davis to answer prosecutor’s questions about Ferb’s level of knowledge and influence, and to shed light on a conference regarding funds sent to entities associated with the former NFL star. .
According to a DOJ statement, Davis directed his office to “provide federal funding to two nonprofits and then instructed the two organizations to sue various groups and individuals for social services that were not provided.” instructed to award the contract to
As part of his plea, Davis is expected to reveal how the suspicion of fraud was established and the exact individuals who benefited. It is seen as a major coup for state and federal prosecutors to indict Davis as a central facilitator. Davis said he was indicted on 20 counts for his role in embezzlement and could face nearly 50 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Instead, his cooperation and agreeing to a plea bargain for a handful of charges allows him to face a fraction of that time behind bars in exchange for cooperation that could implicate others. It is expected.
Davis’ guilty plea is the second major accord prosecutors have reached in the case, after nonprofit manager Nancy New, who was indicted and pleaded guilty to 13 felony charges related to the investigation in April. New is a nonprofit that has historically been used as a pipeline to move welfare funds to a variety of corporate projects that state and government officials have called the Well-Connected People’s Well-Being Plan. I was accused of leading a group.
Besides Ferb, prosecutors are also investigating former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant. It details the documents allegedly tied to the funds sought to Mississippi Department of Human Services. Bryant denies any memory of using welfare funds for inappropriate projects.
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