The first sentencing has been handed down in connection with the largest welfare scandal in Mississippi history.
Ann McGrew, a former accountant with the now-defunct Mississippi Community Education Center, was sentenced Monday to one year behind bars and four years on house arrest on a state charge. McGrew pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy for her role in helping illegally steer money intended for poor Mississippians to unrelated projects. She did not face any federal charges.
Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens lauded McGrew as the first individual connected to the scheme to assist prosecutors in getting to the bottom of what was ultimately discovered to be an intertangled web of fraud, with a state official and former professional athletes allegedly colluding with one another to put millions of dollars into ventures that did not serve Mississippians. Owens said McGrew owned up to what she did and helped report other malfeasances.
State Auditor Shad White, whose office uncovered the welfare scandal, is confident that McGrew’s sentencing means =others involved in the fraud scheme will be given jail time in the near future.
“The first person was sentenced to prison today in the welfare fraud scheme that my office uncovered over six years ago. My understanding from prosecutors is that the court will be sentencing the other six people who pleaded guilty soon,” White said. “Our court system often takes time to function, but today it took a step toward justice for the taxpayers who were defrauded in the largest public fraud scheme in state history.”
Notable figures involved in this case include former Mississippi Department of Human Services Executive Director John Davis, nonprofit founders Nancy New and Christi Webb, Nancy’s son, Zach, former professional wrestler Brett Dibiase, and pharmaceutical company founder Jake Vanlandingham. All six await sentencing. Meanwhile, Ted Dibiase Jr. was cleared on federal charges back in March.
