The former head of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) has been arrested in a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme, which — among other things — helped pay for the rehab of retired WWE wrestler Brett DiBiase, according to a release by the state auditor on Wednesday.

H/T: Fox News

“Auditors concluded, after an eight-month investigation, that the accused conspired to illegally obtain millions in public funds from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program administered by DHS. Defendants used a variety of business entities and schemes to defraud the taxpayers,” said the statement.

“Nancy New and her son, Zach New, stand accused of using the News’ non-profit, MCEC, to pay for DiBiase’s drug treatment using TANF funds. At Davis’ direction, MCEC used TANF money received from DHS to pay for DiBiase’s opioid treatment at the Rise in Malibu facility. The documentation submitted by the News claimed this was to pay DiBiase for conducting training classes that never, in fact, took place.”

“I don’t care how politically connected a person may be. You do not have the right to treat taxpayer money as your own or to lie to the taxpayers about what you’re doing with that money. Others doing this kind of thing are on notice: this will not be tolerated now,” said State Auditor Shad White.

Former Mississippi Welfare Director Charged With Embezzling Millions



John Davis used some of the funds to pay for Brett DiBiase, a former professional wrestler, to go to drug rehab. https://t.co/tRTRK0SXwN — Dan Levin (@globaldan) February 6, 2020