Retired professional wrestler Dale “Brett” DiBiase has pled guilty to his role in Mississippi’s largest public fraud case.
According to Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, DiBiase pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. in federal court. Thursday’s plea follows DiBiase’s conviction on December 17, 2020.
DiBiase previously pled guilty to two counts of making false representations to defraud the government in Hinds County Court, which stemmed from accusations of the former wrestler submitting false documents in 2018 and 2019 of work he did not perform.
The funding was provided by the Mississippi Department of Human Services through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
The 2020 sentencing was postponed to give Owens and the U.S. Attorney’s office more time to prosecute others involved in the corruption scandal.
DiBiase faces up to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and a fine of up to $250,000.00, as well as the penalty he is issued in state court.
Others involved in the scandal are former MDHS Executive Director John Davis, Ann McGrew, Zach New, Nancy New, and Latimer Smith.
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