Tag: volleyball

Brett Favre played 20 seasons in the NFL. Syndication Usa Today

Brett Favre: ‘I did not know’ Miss. funds were earmarked for welfare

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Brett Favre responded to reports that he was involved in a widespread welfare fraud scheme in his home state of Mississippi.

Favre told Fox News Digital that he had no knowledge that any funds he requested for a volleyball facility at the University of Southern Mississippi were being diverted from welfare causes for the state’s poorest residents.

“I have been unjustly smeared in the media,” Favre said in the statement. “I have done nothing wrong, and it is past time to set the record straight.

“No one ever told me, and I did not know, that funds designated for welfare recipients were going to the University or me. I tried to help my alma mater USM, a public Mississippi state university, raise funds for a wellness center. My goal was and always will be to improve the athletic facilities at my university.”

Mississippi Today reported last month that former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant helped Favre receive funding for the volleyball center. Favre’s daughter was a member of the Southern Miss team at the time, and Favre played his college football at the university.

Text messages showed Nancy New — who has already pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering for her role — discussing with Favre and Bryant how to divert the welfare funds for the project. New founded the Mississippi Community Education Center, which was tasked with spending millions in federal welfare funds to help the state.

“If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?” Favre asked New in 2017.

After telling Favre that “we never have that information publicized,” she got back to him the next day.

“Wow, just got off the phone with Phil Bryant! He is on board with us! We will get this done!” New told Favre.

Bryant explained to Favre in a 2019 text that federal funds for the “low income community” was tightly controlled.

“Any improper use could result in violation of Federal Law. Auditors are currently reviewing the use of these funds,” the ex-governor told Favre.

But Favre is denying that he knew the money was illegally diverted.

“State agencies provided the funds to Nancy New’s charity, the Mississippi Community Education Center, which then gave the funds to the University, all with the full knowledge and approval of other State agencies, including the State-wide Institute for Higher Learning, the Governor’s office and the Attorney General’s office,” Favre’s statement said.

“I was told that the legal work to ensure that these funds could be accepted by the university was done by State attorneys and State employees.”

Favre also had been paid $1.1 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money to make speeches that, according to an auditor, Favre never made. Favre paid back the money, but the state filed a civil lawsuit against Favre seeking to recoup $228,000 in interest.

Favre’s attorney, Eric Herschmann, told Fox News that his client was never paid for a “no-show appearance.”

–Field Level Media

The Mississippi Department of Human Services on Monday sued retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre along with several other people and businesses to try to recover millions of misspent welfare dollars that were intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S. Xxx 0807 Clemson Practice 28 Jpg S Bbc Usa Sc

Texts reveal ex-gov. helped Brett Favre divert welfare funds for stadium

Posted on | by Field Level Media

An investigative report by Mississippi Today revealed Tuesday that former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant helped NFL legend Brett Favre receive funding that was supposed to go to the state’s welfare agency in order to build a new volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Text messages from 2017 and 2019 were filed this week by an attorney representing Nancy New, who has already pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts of bribery, fraud and racketeering for her role in the scheme. New was the founder of the Mississippi Community Education Center, which was tasked with spending millions in federal welfare funds to help the state.

The texts show Favre, New and Bryant discussing how to divert the welfare funds to build a $5 million volleyball stadium at Southern Miss. Favre played football at Southern Miss, and his daughter was a volleyball player there at the time some of the texts were sent.

“If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?” Favre asked New in 2017.

After telling Favre that “we never have that information publicized,” she got back to him the next day.

“Wow, just got off the phone with Phil Bryant! He is on board with us! We will get this done!” New told Favre.

In another text sent in July 2019, Bryant told New he had just finished meeting with Favre and asked her if they could help him with his project.

Bryant, who left office in January 2020, had previously denied helping with the scheme.

Last year, Favre paid back $600,000 to the state of Mississippi, an amount he had been paid for speeches he never gave. Favre was commissioned in 2017 and 2018 to promote a state poverty-fighting initiative, receiving $1.1 million. The State Auditor’s Office reported that he initially gave back $500,000 of the amount, but earlier this month, Favre was asked in a letter to repay the remainder plus interest.

Then, in May, the Mississippi Department of Human Services filed a civil lawsuit against Favre because he had not paid back interest on the $1.1 million that amounted to $228,000.

–Field Level Media