Ted DiBiase Jr. was found not guilty on all 13 federal charges on March 20, 2026, Associated Press reported. The “45 years” in the earlier headline referred to potential prison exposure before trial—not a sentence—and is no longer a description of his status in that case.
What happened to Ted DiBiase Jr.?
A federal jury acquitted DiBiase on every charge in the Mississippi welfare-funds case, according to the Associated Press report published March 20, 2026. His attorney, Sidney Lampton, told AP, “It’s, I think, just a weight off his chest.” U.S. Attorney Baxter Kruger said, “While I remain confident in our case, I respect the jury’s verdict.”
The verdict answers the criminal case described in the earlier headline. The available reporting cited here does not establish whether a later appeal or separate proceeding changed the post-verdict status, so it does not establish a current custody record beyond reporting the acquittal.
Why was he facing a possible 45 years?
The figure came from the potential statutory maximum penalties attached to the charges before trial. The U.S. Department of Justice’s April 20, 2023 announcement listed one conspiracy count, six wire-fraud counts, two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four money-laundering counts. A November 2025 pretrial report described the combined potential exposure as 45 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Those figures described possible penalties if convicted, not a sentence imposed on DiBiase.
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| Charge category | Counts | DOJ-stated maximum per count |
|---|---|---|
| Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds | 1 | 5 years |
| Wire fraud | 6 | 20 years |
| Theft concerning programs receiving federal funds | 2 | 10 years |
| Money laundering | 4 | 10 years |
The maximums above are those stated by DOJ in its 2023 announcement; they are not predictions of a likely sentence. The jury’s not-guilty verdict means DiBiase was not sentenced on these charges.
What did prosecutors allege?
In its indictment announcement, DOJ said prosecutors alleged that John Davis, then executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, directed federal funds to two nonprofits: Family Resource Center of North Mississippi Inc. and Mississippi Community Education Center. The indictment alleged that the nonprofits awarded sham contracts, including five to DiBiase’s companies, Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC, for social services that were not provided or intended to be provided.
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DOJ said the indictment alleged that money was used for items including a vehicle, a boat, and a house down payment. The programs named were Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). These were allegations in the indictment, not findings of guilt; the jury later acquitted DiBiase on all 13 charges. DOJ’s original release also said defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
How does DiBiase’s case fit into Mississippi’s wider scandal?
DiBiase’s criminal case was one part of a broader controversy involving the state’s use of welfare funds. AP reported that the Mississippi state auditor said more than $77 million in TANF funds were misspent across the wider scandal. That scandal-wide figure is not an amount attributed to DiBiase personally.
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AP also reported that several other people connected to the scandal pleaded guilty and that the Mississippi Department of Human Services pursued a civil lawsuit seeking to recover more than $20 million. These developments are distinct from DiBiase’s acquitted criminal case. AP reported on March 20, 2026, that former governor Phil Bryant and retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre denied wrongdoing and had not been criminally charged at that time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does “once WWE’s future” refer to?
DiBiase is the son of WWE Hall of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase and performed in WWE as Ted DiBiase. The earlier headline’s “facing 45 years” wording captured a pretrial possibility, not an outcome. The current result reported by AP is that a jury found him not guilty of all 13 federal charges on March 20, 2026.
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