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https://mississippitoday.org/2022/04/06/brett-favre-used-fame-favors-welfare-dollars/
Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre had a way with Mississippi government officials.
Whether the football star was looking for funds to boost a startup company that he thought would make him rich or angling to take credit for building a new volleyball stadium at his alma mater, Favre knew he could count on Mississippi’s governor, the state’s welfare chief and a grant-funded nonprofit director to help him out.
He wasn’t shy about sweetening the deal for others or trading on his own fame and connections to secure a financial bailout. Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback and home-state hero, had special access to Gov. Phil Bryant and people who controlled the state’s welfare spending.
Part 1: Phil Bryant had his sights on a payout as welfare funds flowed to Brett Favre
Favre said a nonprofit director Nancy New gave him $5 million in grant funds to build a volleyball stadium at University of Southern Mississippi – a payment that could be part of forthcoming civil litigation. A pharmaceutical company Favre backed, called Prevacus, also ended up receiving $2.15 million in allegedly stolen funds from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The quarterback collected an additional $1.1 million welfare dollars personally.
In the course of his dealings on behalf of Prevacus or the volleyball stadium, Favre proposed the following:
Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre had a way with Mississippi government officials.
Whether the football star was looking for funds to boost a startup company that he thought would make him rich or angling to take credit for building a new volleyball stadium at his alma mater, Favre knew he could count on Mississippi’s governor, the state’s welfare chief and a grant-funded nonprofit director to help him out.
He wasn’t shy about sweetening the deal for others or trading on his own fame and connections to secure a financial bailout. Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback and home-state hero, had special access to Gov. Phil Bryant and people who controlled the state’s welfare spending.
Part 1: Phil Bryant had his sights on a payout as welfare funds flowed to Brett Favre
Favre said a nonprofit director Nancy New gave him $5 million in grant funds to build a volleyball stadium at University of Southern Mississippi – a payment that could be part of forthcoming civil litigation. A pharmaceutical company Favre backed, called Prevacus, also ended up receiving $2.15 million in allegedly stolen funds from the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The quarterback collected an additional $1.1 million welfare dollars personally.
In the course of his dealings on behalf of Prevacus or the volleyball stadium, Favre proposed the following:
- Give then-Gov. Phil Bryant shares in Prevacus, or transfer his own personal shares to the governor
- Give nonprofit founder Nancy New shares in Prevacus
- Buy then-MDHS director John Davis a F-150 Raptor — Ford’s top-of-the-line pickup truck
- Convince New and Davis to pay off more than $1 million he owed on the volleyball facility
- Ask the governor for a meeting with the replacement MDHS director for more volleyball money
- Convince USM to finance Prevacus in exchange for stock for himself
- Aim to take home $20 million
