JACKSON, Miss. – The former head of the Mississippi Department of Human Services has been arrested as part of a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme that among other things paid for a former professional wrestler to go to a luxury drug rehabilitation center in California, the state auditor announced Wednesday.

Auditor Shad White said his office is still attempting to determine the total amount of money involved, but the "sprawling conspiracy" already exceeds any embezzlement scheme in recent years.

John Davis worked at DHS for nearly three decades, eventually rising to director in 2016. He resigned in July 2019, at about the same time the auditor's office began its investigation.

According to the auditor's office, Davis and another DHS employee made fake invoices to pay Brett DiBiase – a former pro wrestler who later became a DHS employee – with money intended to help poor families.

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DiBiase was allegedly paid to teach classes about drug use and instead used the money to pay for his own drug rehabilitation in Malibu, California. According to the auditor's office, the classes never took place.

The auditor's office said that the illicit money flowed through the Mississippi Community Education Center, a non-profit run by Nancy New and her son Zach New.

The News also directed millions in public money to their private businesses, used the money personally, and concealed the transactions, according to the auditors.

The funds in question were part of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which is administered by DHS.

Follow Giacomo "Jack" Bologna on Twitter: @gbolognaCL.