Tick tock, Brett Favre: Former Mississippi DHS head pleads guilty to defrauding low-income families

Former Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services (DHS) John Davis pleaded guilty on Thursday to “multiple federal and state charges relating to the misuse of funds meant for poor families with children.” Davis oversaw a massive fraud of Mississippi’s welfare funds perpetuated by numerous leaders in the Hospitality State. This is one step forward in a multiyear investigation and audit of state resources that revealed the massive welfare fraud scheme, which included tens of millions illegally spent on things like building former NFL quarterback Brett Favre (pronounced “dirtbag”) a volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), where his daughter attended and played the sport.

In the court filing, the state explained that Davis’ work is not done after pleading guilty. “The State and Defense have announced that a global plea resolution has been reached between the State, the federal authorities and the Defendant, John Davis, whereby the Defendant, John Davis, has agreed to fully cooperate, including providing truthful testimony at trial, with the State and all federal authorities in the prosecution of any and all additional criminally charged defendants, in State or Federal Court, for the criminal misuse of Federal TANF grant funds, State of Mississippi Funds, Mississippi Community of Education Center funds or any other funds available to or through the Mississippi Department of Human Services during his tenure as the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The State and the Defense have advised the Court that pursuant to the global plea resolution, all parties have agreed that the Defendant, John Davis will serve all of his incarcerated time in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.”

The deal sees Davis pleading guilty to five counts of “conspiracy” and 13 counts of “fraud against the government.” The “conspiracy” charge seems to be connected to four unnamed individuals in recently unsealed documents. Who those people are and how much more they might be able to tell state and federal investigators about Bryant’s activities surrounding welfare fraud remain to be seen. 

RELATED STORY: Mississippi officials misused welfare money to build NFL Brett Favre's daughter a volleyball stadium