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An ex-director of Mississippi’s welfare agency pleads guilty over misspent money : NPR


John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, arrives at Thad Cochran U.S. Court in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, where he was found guilty of new federal charges in a row-spending conspiracy tens of millions of dollars. to help families in need.

Rogelio V. Solis / AP


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Rogelio V. Solis / AP


John Davis, the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, arrives at Thad Cochran U.S. Court in Jackson, Miss., on Thursday, where he was found guilty of new federal charges in a row-spending conspiracy tens of millions of dollars. to help families in need.

Rogelio V. Solis / AP

Jackson, Miss. – A former Mississippi welfare agency chief pleaded guilty Thursday to new federal charges in a conspiracy to spend tens of millions of dollars to help needy families in one of the poorest states in the state. America – part of biggest public corruption case in the history of the state.

John Davis has appeared in federal court to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of fraud against the government. During the hearing, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves asked several questions about whether Davis understood the charges he pleaded guilty to.

“Yes, sir,” Davis replied each time.

Reeves set the sentence on Feb. 2. Davis remains free of binding, and the judge said he hopes Davis makes a better decision from now on.

Reeves said: “I would like to hope that this part of your life is behind you.

Davis was indicted on state charges in February 2020. He recidivism this spring with state allegations that he engaged in welfare money abuse, including using some to send a former professional wrestler to an upmarket drug rehab facility.

State charges are being dropped in exchange for Davis agreeing to plead guilty to federal charges and testify against others in the case, according to a state court settlement filed today. Wednesday. State court documents say Davis agreed to plead guilty to five counts of conspiracy and 13 counts of fraud in federal court, but he pleaded guilty to only one count of each count. Attorneys in federal court did not address many of the allegations or explain the contents of the state court documents.

Federal charges were filed September 15, but remained sealed until Wednesday. Federal court records show Davis appeared before the magistrate judge Wednesday, and Davis dropped the indictment and agreed to be prosecuted under federal charges.

Davis was executive director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services from February 2016 to July 2019. He was appointed to the position by then-Gov. Phil Bryant, a Republican.

Federal charges say Davis conspired with four other people, who have not been named. Court documents describe two of the alleged masterminds as executives of the organizations, one as an owner of two companies and the other as a resident of Hinds County, Mississippi. . The capital city of Jackson is in Hinds County.

The conspiracy allegations say one of the organizations paid nearly $498,000 to one of the companies in June 2018. A few days later, that company signed a $1.1 million contract with the company. The other company “aims to create a program that serves inner-city youth.” The charges also state that the same organization paid $700,000 that summer to the company with a program contract for for teenagers.

The theft charges say Davis misused more than $10,000 in federal benefits.

The conspiracy charge carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the burglary charge carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In April, a mother and son run a nonprofit and an education company pleaded guilty brought allegations of abuse of welfare money, including lavish gifts such as first-class airline tickets for Davis. Nancy New and Zachary New have agreed to testify against the others.

In a state court filing on September 12, an attorney for one of the News organizations listed message between retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and Nancy New, between Favre and Bryant and between Bryant and New.

The messages show discussions about millions of dollars in welfare money being directed to a Favre pet project — a volleyball facility under construction at the University of Southern Mississippi. Favre, Bryant and New all attended the university, and Favre’s daughter began playing volleyball there in 2017. Favre and Bryant were not charged in the welfare fraud case.



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