John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, who presided over the massive welfare fraud scandal, will plead guilty Thursday to multiple federal and state charges related to misappropriation of funds for poor families with children. Court records say he agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in cases against other potential defendants.
case involves the former NFL player Brett FavreAlthough he has not been charged, his name comes up in the investigation and it cannot be ruled out that he is involved.
“The State and the Defense announce that a global petition has been reached between State, federal officials and the defendant, John Davis, whereby the defendant, John Davis, has fully agreed to cooperate, Prosecution of any and all additional criminal defendants, in state or federal court, for criminal misuse of federal TANF grant funds includes providing true testimony at trial with state and all federal authorities,” a court filing in County 1 The Judicial District Circuit Court in Hinds reads on Wednesday.
John Davis appears in federal court to plead guilty One conspiracy and one count for fraud against the government. During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves asked several questions about whether Davis understood the charges for which he was pleading guilty.
“Yes, sir,” replied Davis each time.
Reeves sentenced on February 2. Davis remains free on bail, and the judge said he expects Davis to make a better decision going forward.
The theft charges say Davis misappropriated federal grants worth more than $10,000.
The conspiracy charge faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the theft charge carries up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
In April, a mother and son running a non-profit organization and education company pleaded guilty to state charges of embezzlement of welfare funds, including lavish gifts such as first-class airfare for Davis. Nancy New And Zachary New agreed to testify against the others.
In a September 12 state court filing, a lawyer for one of the news organizations listed text messages between retired NFL quarterbacks Brett Favre and Nancy New, Beach Favre and Bryant And between Bryant and New.
The messages featured a discussion about millions of dollars going to welfare money for a pet project Favre’s: A volleyball facility is being built at the University of Southern Mississippi. Favre, Bryant, and New attended the university, and Favre’s daughter started playing volleyball there in 2017, Favre and Bryant have not been charged with unreasonable welfare spending.