JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – A potential trial date has been set for former professional wrestler Theodore “Ted” Marvin DiBiase Jr.
He was charged with misappropriating millions in federal safety net funds for needy families and low-income individuals in Mississippi. The indictment was unsealed in 2023.
District Judge Carlton Reeves scheduled the unofficial trial date for August 26, 2025.
During a court appearance on November 15, 2024, the Department of Justice issued a motion for Dibiase to find new representation. His attorneys are Scott Gilbert and Rusty Comley, and they work for Watkins and Eager.
There was a discussion in the courtroom that there could be a conflict of interest. There were claims that Watkins and Eager represented someone else years ago who’s also involved in the welfare scandal.
Dibiase told Reeves that he wants Gilbert and Comley to continue to represent him. If the court finds there’s a conflict of interest, the trial could be moved to 2026.
According to court documents, DiBiase, along with co-conspirators John Davis, Christi Webb, Nancy New, and others, are alleged to have fraudulently obtained federal funds, including from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
DiBiase, son of WWE superstar Ted DiBiase, Sr., (also known as “The Million Dollar Man”) was a WWE wrestler in the 2000s and 2010s.
Davis was the executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS).
As part of the alleged scheme, after federal funds were issued to MDHS, prosecutors said Davis directed MDHS to subgrant the funds to two nonprofit organizations, Family Resource Center of North Mississippi Inc. (FRC) and Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC), which were operated by Webb and New, respectively.
Davis allegedly directed Webb and New to award sham contracts to various individuals and entities purportedly for the delivery of social services, including at least five sham contracts that were awarded to DiBiase’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC.
According to the indictment, FRC and MCEC provided millions of dollars in federal funds from MDHS to DiBiase and his companies for social services that DiBiase did not provide and did not intend to provide. DiBiase allegedly used these federal funds to buy a vehicle and a boat, and for the down payment on the purchase of a house.
DiBiase has been charged with 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.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering.
DiBiase’s brother, former pro wrestler Brett DiBiase, has pleaded guilty to state and federal charges tied to the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.