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The United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi yesterday denied Ted DiBiase Jr.'s bid for a mistrial in his currently paused criminal trial. DiBiase had been seeking a mistrail, citing the health issues of his attorney Jason Scott Gilbert, seeking a new trial to start if and when Gilbert has recovered. Yesterday, United States District Judge Carlton Reeves ruled that a new trial would be "particularly difficult" given the amount of media attention the trial has received locally.
The Court has previously offered DiBiase the option of another attorney and ruled yesterday that a new attorney they have approved will step in with the Court paying for his costs but DiBiase having to handle the costs of his travel and other costs. If DiBiase's primary attorney is able to resume his duties, the need for the new attorney will end.
DiBiase Jr. was arrested in April 2023 on 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 charges are part of Mississippi’s largest welfare fraud scandal, which involved more than $77 million in federal funds meant for the state’s poorest residents. Prosecutors allege the money was improperly distributed to former athletes, wrestlers, and nonprofits. DiBiase faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years per wire fraud count, 10 years per theft and money laundering count, and five years for conspiracy - if he is found guilty.
The crux of the trial centers on whether he unlawfully took Mississippi welfare funds intended for low-income families or legitimately earned the money through contracted services.
The trial has been paused through 2/22. It was several weeks in when it paused.
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