04/01/2026
A total of seven people have pleaded guilty to state or federal charges related to the fraud case, but one person, former pro wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr., has decided to plead not guilty and stand trial.
His brother, Brett DiBiase, 37, was also charged in the welfare-fraud scandal. Brett, who also wrestled professionally, pleaded guilty to state and federal charges.
Meanwhile, his older brother, who received the Million Dollar Championship title in 2010 from their wrestler father, Ted DiBiase Sr., is the only person indicted after he chose to fight money laundering, wire fraud, theft, and conspiracy charges.
The trial, which is set to begin Tuesday, will detail how DiBiase, 43, allegedly pocketed around $4 million in welfare dollars that he used for himself.
The fraud in Mississippi comes as similar allegations continue to sweep across Minnesota that suggest alleged scammers, most of Somali descent, are said to have spent millions meant to feed hungry children on flashy cars and swanky travels, according to court evidence obtained by CBS.
A fraud scandal has erupted in a new state and ex-pro wrestlers are at the center of it all. According to prosecutors, seven people in total stole at least $77 million from tax payers.