Brett Favre repays $600K in welfare fraud case

Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has repaid the $600,000 that he owed to the state of Mississippi after he improperly received welfare money as part of an extensive fraud scheme, The New York Times reported.

Favre was among 10 individuals who were sent letters from state auditor Shad White’s office this month that demanded repayment of tens of millions of dollars connected to the scam. 

“This week Brett Favre repaid $600,000,” White said in a statement to the Times on Wednesday, but he added that the longtime Green Bay Packers star still owes $228,000.

“If Mr. Favre does not repay the full amount within 30 days of our demand, the attorney general will be responsible for enforcing the payment of the interest and has the option to file suit,” White reportedly said. 

Favre, 52, was improperly paid $1.1 million in welfare funds between December 2017 and June 2018, the Times reported. 

According to a May 2020 audit, the state of Mississippi allowed millions of dollars in anti-poverty funds to be used for football tickets, religious concerts, lobbyists and fitness programs for state lawmakers. Favre was paid by the state’s nonprofit Community Education Center for speaking appearances he never made.

Former professional wrestlers Ted DiBiase Sr. and Ted DiBiase Jr. were also ordered by White to repay a total of $4.6 million they got through the welfare fraud scheme, the Times reported. 

Favre, who played for 20 seasons in the NFL, said he never received any money for any obligation that he did not meet, according to the Times.  

“I would certainly never do anything to take away from the children I have fought to help!” Favre said in a statement. “I love Mississippi and I would never knowingly do anything to take away from those that need it most.”