How many years is Brett getting?
Mississippi welfare funds scandal
Main article: Mississippi welfare funds scandal
In 2020, Favre's involvement with the development and promotion of a concussion treatment drug, Prevasol, by the Prevacus corporation, came under scrutiny. The nonprofit Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC) received $2.5 million in federal grant funds diverted from Mississippi's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families welfare funds (TANF), as well as tens of millions in public funds as an element of the scheme. The Mississippi state auditor has termed the scheme "the largest public embezzlement case in state history". A grand jury in Hinds County indicted MCEC founder, Nancy New, and her son Zach in the scheme. Favre had introduced MCEC's founders to top state welfare officials.[267] Former Governor Phil Bryant is also involved in the scandal.[268]
No-show speaking fees
On May 4, 2020, an audit in Favre's home state of Mississippi alleged that the state's Department of Human Services misspent $94 million intended for at-need residents, including $1.1 million paid out to Favre's company for two speaking appearances he did not make.[269] The Mississippi auditor later announced that Favre intended to repay that money.[270] On October 12, 2021, the Mississippi State Auditor notified Favre that he could face a civil lawsuit if he did not pay the state $828,000.[271] Favre paid $600,000 on October 26, 2021.[272] The Mississippi State Auditor said Favre still owed $228,000 in interest and referred the matter to the state attorney general's office.[273][274][275] Favre was questioned by the FBI over the misappropriated funds. His lawyer has stated that Favre did not know the money was misappropriated from funds used to assist poor families and has not been charged with a crime in these matter.[276][277]
Diversion of funds for volleyball facility and biotech venture
A lawsuit filed by the state of Mississippi alleges Favre orchestrated the diversion of federal welfare funds to non-welfare related causes.[278]
On September 13, 2022, Mississippi Today published text messages between Favre and former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant showing Favre's involvement in a plan to divert $5 million of the money toward a cause championed by Favre, a new volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi, his alma mater and where his daughter played volleyball.[279] The text messages had been entered as evidence as part of a civil lawsuit.[280] In one of the texts, Favre asks, "If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?"[281]
Favre helped arrange for $2 million of the funds to be invested in a biotech startup in which he had already invested.[278]
Civil lawsuit
In August 2023, the Mississippi Supreme Court ordered for Favre to stand as a defendant in the welfare funds lawsuit.[282] On December 11, 2023, Favre took part in a deposition, with attorneys for the State of Mississippi interrogating him for more than nine hours.[283]
