Former WWE star Ted DiBiase Jr. is reportedly scheduled to stand trial in August 2025 on multiple federal charges related to his alleged involvement in the widespread Mississippi welfare fraud scandal. If convicted on all counts, DiBiase Jr. faces the potential for a very lengthy prison sentence, with individual charges carrying maximum penalties ranging from five to twenty years. His father, WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr., has been implicated in the civil aspects of the scandal through his ministry but has not been criminally charged.
Ted DiBiase Jr. was indicted in April 2023 on 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. According to the Department of Justice, the conspiracy count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, each wire fraud count up to 20 years, and each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and money laundering up to 10 years. These sentences could potentially run consecutively.
A recent hearing was held in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi regarding DiBiase Jr.’s case. His trial is likely to begin on August 26, 2025, with jury selection slated for August 19. Deadlines for the submission of expert witnesses have been set for June 20 (prosecution) and June 27 (defense), with all pre-trial motions due by July 10. Court documents indicated that the government had previously requested more time due to the extensive discovery involved, and the court agreed that the “ends of justice” outweighed the need for a speedier trial.
The charges against Ted DiBiase Jr. are part of a much larger investigation into the misspending of tens of millions of dollars in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) welfare funds in Mississippi. The scheme involved channeling money through non-profits, like the Mississippi Community Education Center run by Nancy New (who has pleaded guilty to state and federal charges), to various individuals and entities for services allegedly not performed or for unallowable purposes.
Ted DiBiase Sr.’s Christian ministry, Heart of David Ministries, was also a recipient of these misspent TANF funds. According to reports and the Mississippi state auditor, his ministry received millions, ostensibly for services such as leadership training or anti-drug abuse programs. While DiBiase Sr. has not faced criminal charges, his ministry, Heart of David Ministries, was ordered by the state of Mississippi to repay $722,299 in misspent welfare funds. He has denied allegations in response to a civil lawsuit filed by the state seeking to recoup the funds.
The scandal has implicated numerous individuals, including former Mississippi Department of Human Services Director John Davis (who pleaded guilty to state and federal charges and was sentenced to 90 years in state prison, with 58 suspended) and Ted DiBiase Jr.’s brother, Brett DiBiase. Brett DiBiase also pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States for his role in the scheme, specifically for receiving TANF money for luxury drug rehabilitation services.
The focus of the upcoming criminal trial in August is solely on Ted DiBiase Jr. and the specific federal charges brought against him. His father, Ted DiBiase Sr., continues to be involved in civil litigation brought by the Mississippi Department of Human Services aimed at recovering the misspent welfare funds distributed to his ministry.
The Mississippi welfare fraud scandal has been described as the largest public corruption case in the state’s history, drawing national attention for the scale of the alleged embezzlement and the involvement of high-profile figures. The outcome of Ted DiBiase Jr.’s trial will be a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address the widespread misuse of funds intended for the state’s neediest families.
