Latest news with #MississippiDepartmentofHumanServices
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
MDHS investigates EBT skimming cases in Mississippi
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – People across the country and in Mississippi have reported they have been affected by EBT thefts through skimming. 'Skimming happens when you swipe or insert your card, and there's a reader that pulls the information off your PIN number, your card number and your name,' said Mark Jones, Chief Communications Office for the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS). Stolen funds cannot be reimbursed due to federal changes made in December 2024, but Jones said MDHS is actively investigating the cases. 'This hits Mississippi's most vulnerable residents hardest. And so, we want to be able to investigate and root out this type of fraud that is perpetuated against Mississippi's most vulnerable residents,' said Jones. SNAP changes proposed in GOP's 'big, beautiful bill.' Here's what to know He said cardholders should change their pins frequently and be mindful when creating them. 'Don't use a simple pen. Don't use sequential numbers. Don't do one, two, three, four. Don't do one, one, one. Don't use something that is synonymous with your birthdate or even your Social Security number,' Jones stated. Tiffany Williams, who lives in Jackson, said it's discouraging to go through the theft and be told nothing can be done. 'To say y'all can't do nothing, just fill out a form. I mean, that's kind of hurtful and like a slap in the face, like we don't care, you just got to wait another month to get your benefits,' she said. If you believe you have been a victim of SNAP EBT theft, MDHS requests that you call the Mississippi EBT cardholder service center at 1-866-512-5087 to report the card as compromised and create a new PIN. This will deactivate the card and send a new card to the account holder. Customers can learn more about requesting replacement benefits on the SNAP Fraud Benefit Replacement page. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mississippi welfare scandal: US wants state to repay $101 million. What to know
The federal government has asked Mississippi to return an estimated $101 million in misspent welfare funds. It's the latest update in a fraud scandal that rocked the state. This letter marks the first time the U.S. government has sought to get back the funds. Tens of millions of dollars to help families in need was embezzled through two nonprofits, and $5 million was used to build a sports facility at the University of Southern Mississippi. Several people faced legal charges, and some lawsuits related to the case are ongoing. Here's what we know about the case so far and where matters stand. According to the letter, as provided to WLBT, Mississippi is "subject to a penalty amount of $100,880,029" for fraud from the Mississippi Department of Human Services ranging from 2016-2019. The money was taken from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and the state was denying effectively all requests for aid during the time funds were being embezzled. Former Gov. Phil Bryant was not named in the letter, though the allegations took place during his tenure. According to the Administration for Children & Families, the total being requested is the result of two forensic audits. The state had 60 days to accept the finding, dispute the penalty, ask for an exemption. There's also the option to enter a corrective compliance plan to show how Mississippi plans to follow federal policies for TANF money in the future. According to the letter, about $12.4 million in waste came from three categories: Payments indicative of conflicts of interest for former Former Mississippi DHS Director John Davis: $1,112,285. Payments indicative of Davis' undue influence and favoritism: $7,448,078. Other instances of possible fraud, waste or abuse: $3,824,631. The bulk of the total, $88.5 million, was listed as misused and listed by grantee disbursement: MDHS: $15,049,501. 100 Black Men of Jackson: $223,063. Autism Center of North Mississippi: $75,000. Family Resource Center of NE Mississippi: $16,385,895. Heart of David Ministries: $558,048. Jackson Medical Mall Foundation: $21,364. Mississippi Alliance of Boys & Girls Club: $669,399. Mississippi Community Education Center: $52,829,887. Mississippi State University: $1,659,806. Moore Community House Inc.: $144,599. The University of Southern Mississippi: $838,473. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program started in 1996 to help low-income families meet basic needs. States allocate block grants through the program. Many have called for changes to TANF due to its lack of restrictions, which could open the door to misuse. Former NFL player Brett Favre has been accused in the case but has not been charged with a crime. A Mississippi Department of Human Services lawsuit seeking to recoup the funds from Favre and others is ongoing. Several people have pleaded guilty in relation to the case. Davis pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of fraud against the government in federal court. In exchange for the 2022 plea and his willingness to testify against others, the state dropped its charges. Mother and son Nancy and Zachary New pleaded guilty in 2022 on several charges, including bribing a public official, fraud against the government and wire fraud. Ann McGrew, the accountant for the Mississippi Community Education Center, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in 2021. Prevacus founder Jacob VanLandingham pleaded guilty in 2024 to taking more than $1.7 million for developing the drug from TANF funding. Dale "Brett" DiBiase, a former deputy administrator for the Mississippi Department of Human Services, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of conspiracy to defraud the government in 2023. He also pleaded December 2020 to one count of making a false statement. At the time, he'd agreed to pay $48,000 in restitution. Latimer Smith, who worked for DHS, was indicted and accepted into a pretrial intervention program. According to a 2020 audit report from State Auditor Shad White and several subsequent reports, those funds went to several wealthy people and groups for various reasons. It was spent on luxury vehicles, sponsoring a baseball tournament, sports programs, a private school, lobbying, hiring relatives of a top state official, medical investments and paying Favre for speeches he never gave. Five million dollars were used to build a volleyball arena at the University of Southern Mississippi. The money was funneled through Mississippi Community Education Center and Family Resource Center of North Mississippi, which both did programs under Families First Resource Center. Davis reportedly controlled a lot of the money himself, and the nonprofits hired his relatives, giving his nephew and brother-in-law more than $1 million. The groups also reportedly gave funds to wrestlers Ted DiBiase, Ted "Teddy" DiBiase Jr. and Brett DiBiase. Prevacus is a biotech company based in Florida that was given welfare funds. It was developing a concussion drug. Favre reportedly hoped the drug could help himself and others. The News and Farve worked to bolster the company. Brett DiBiase said he took $48,000 for work he didn't do through Restore2, a limited liability corporation. About $160,000 was reportedly used to send him to a luxury drug rehab facility. Ted DiBiase Sr., 'The Million Dollar Man," is now a motivational speaker and evangelist. His Heart of David ministries reportedly got $2.1 million in welfare funds. Teddy DiBiase has been charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, six counts of wire fraud, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and four counts of money laundering. The criminal case is still being processed in federal court. From 2024: MS Auditor releases book on welfare scandal. See what he says about Brett Favre, key players In 2022, the Mississippi Department of Human Services filed a lawsuit against Favre and more than three dozen others individuals, companies and groups. The lawsuit seeks to claw back millions. Favre repaid $500,000 in speaking fees to the state in May 2020 and $600,000 in October 2021. He has said he didn't know where the money came from. White sued Favre in early 2024, arguing he still owes more than $729,000 because of growing interest on the funds he initially owed. (Favre has also sued White for defamation, including how he was portrayed in the auditor's book on the scandal.) As part of testimony to Congress on program reform, Favre said he "didn't know what TANF was" when the scheme started. He disclosed he now has Parkinson's disease. (The risk can be increased by concussions.) Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch tried to stop White in court, arguing her office is the only one with the right to try to recoup the money. Her suit was dismissed by Hinds County Chancellor Dewayne Thomas in December, and Fitch has appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court. Mary Boyte, Grant McLaughlin and Lici Beveridge contributed to this report. Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with Gannett/USA Today. Email her at bbolden@ This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Welfare scandal: US wants $101M back from MS. Where did the money go?
