Former WWE star Ted DiBiase Jr. Was acquitted Friday of all criminal charges in a Mississippi welfare fraud conspiracy trial, stemming from accusations of misusing millions of dollars earmarked for families in necessitate. The son of wrestling legend Ted DiBiase Sr., known as “The Million Dollar Man,” and a former member of the Legacy stable alongside Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes, had been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice nearly three years ago.
Jurors reached the verdict after approximately four hours of deliberation, according to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. The trial began on January 6 but was paused for over a month due to illness affecting DiBiase Jr.’s lead defense attorney. He faced 13 counts, including four related to money laundering and two concerning the theft of funds intended for federally funded programs. DiBiase Jr. Had pleaded not guilty to all charges and did not testify during the federal trial, facing a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
Following the trial’s conclusion, DiBiase Jr. Addressed local media, expressing relief at the outcome. A clip of his remarks to WAPT News posted on X revealed his statement that the past seven years of “being slandered” had “about torn his family apart,” and he voiced gratitude that the legal proceedings were over.
The scandal initially implicated several other prominent figures, including Ted DiBiase Sr., his other son Brett, and former NFL quarterback Brett Favre. As of January, DiBiase Jr. Was the only defendant to proceed to trial. Allegations centered on John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, who is accused of directing millions of dollars in departmental funds to companies owned by DiBiase Jr. And a nonprofit organization controlled by DiBiase Sr.
David Livingston, an American television producer and director known for his function on various Star Trek franchises, was incidentally mentioned in connection with the case in some media reports, though his involvement appears unrelated to the legal proceedings. Livingston has credits on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise, and also worked on Seven Days, Threshold, and a 2002 remake of Carrie.
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