Prosecutors questioned a returning witness Wednesday in a state welfare fraud trial, and intimate text messages were revealed between him, the defendant and his brother.
John Davis, former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, admitted that even though Ted DiBiase Jr. did not fulfill the terms of a $497,000 contract and another for $250,000, he forced Nancy New and Christi Webb to give the former professional wrestler more contracts.
New founded New Summit School, and Webb is the former director of the North Mississippi-based nonprofit Family Resource Center.
Davis testified in federal court that he kept making promises to Ted DiBiase for future contracts and possible business deals between the two, even while Ted DiBiase had not done what he promised to do with the previous welfare funds he received.
Prosecutors shared intimate text messages between Davis, Ted DiBiase and his brother to show that Davis would do anything he could to help them.
Davis told the jury his special relationship with the DiBiase brothers was unlike any of his other friendships.
In 2018, Brett DiBiase texted Davis, “It’s only when I’m with you I fell safe enough to sleep.”
Davis testified that he had gotten really close to Brett DiBiase.
In another text message, Davis told Ted DiBiase, “I will freaking die for you.”
Ted DiBiase responded, “It would be my honor to die for you, bro.”
Another message from Brett DiBiase to Davis started with “I don’t know where I stand with you,” and ended with “Every time I think of you I want to be with you.”
Davis responded, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Davis pleaded guilty in 2022 to five counts of conspiracy and 13 counts of fraud against the government in Hinds County Circuit Court and was sentenced to 32 years in state prison. Davis also pleaded guilty to federal charges. As part of the plea deal, Davis agreed to testify in state and federal court in the prosecution of other criminally charged defendants.
DiBiase, of Madison, is accused of conspiring to fraudulently obtain $3.5 million in federal funds intended for needy families. Federal prosecutors allege he received money tied to welfare programs through sham contracts for services that were never provided.
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