Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre was one of the most beloved players in franchise history when he was playing for the team. Along with Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive players Reggie White and LeRoy Butler, he helped the Packers end their Championship drought by leading Green Bay to victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.
Most Packers fans even were able to forgive Favre for signing with the Minnesota Vikings in free agency following the 2008 season. For a few years, it seemed that the now Pro Football Hall of Famer was back in the good graces of fans.
But then the Mississippi welfare scandal came to light.
Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre Allegedly Helped Steal Millions of Dollars of Mississippi State Welfare Funds
Back in 2021, reports surfaced accusing Favre and former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant of diverting millions of dollars from the state’s welfare fund to build a new volleyball stadium at the college Favre’ daughter attended. The former Packers quarterback has maintained his innocence and has not been charged with a crime.
It does bear mentioning, however, that Favre’s business partner, Jake Van Landingham, pled guilty to wire fraud in connect to the case. Evidence shows that Van Landingham’s company, Prevacus, received $2 million of stolen welfare funds. Favre is one of Prevacus’ largest investors.
Former Governor Bryant has also filed suit against the reporter, editor, and news publication that broke the story. He has filed a motion that, if granted, would require the anonymous sources who supplied information for the report to be publicly named.
Like Favre, Bryant has not been charged with nor convicted of any crime.
The Prosecutor in Former Green Bay Packers Quarterback Brett Favre’s Welfare Scandal is Under FBI Investigation
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In a wild twist, the prosecutor who is working on possibly bringing charges against Favre and Bryant is now under investigation by the FBI. Earlier this year, it was reported that the FBI had raided the offices of Jody Owens, the prosecutor who is working the welfare case. A cigar shop owned by Owens was also raided.
On August 15, A.J. Perez of Front Office Sports reported that Owens is being investigated by the FBI for allegedly accepting bribes. He does note, though, that the federal probe is separate from the welfare scandal involving the former Packers quarterback.
According to Perez, one of Owens’ lawyers said in a statement, “Jody Owens’s life has been dedicated to public service, including as an intelligence officer in the United States Naval Reserves, Director of the Mississippi Office of the Southern Poverty Law Center, and presently Hinds County District Attorney.
“It is our understanding that the federal investigation does not involve Jody’s service as District Attorney. For the past 15 years, Jody has also been engaged in real estate development. This sort of private business activity is permitted by the law even during the time a person serves as a D.A. For the moment, we have no further comment as we await the outcome of that investigation.”
Perez also reports that several thousand dollars were found in a safe in Owens’ office. The report was not clear on whether the safe was in his private business office or in his office at the Hines County courthouse.
Multiple Jackson city council members are also subjects of the probe. One of them, Angelique C. Lee, has already been indicted after accepting a $13,000 “bribe” from two undercover agents.
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