Overview
- Jurors deliberated about four hours before returning not‑guilty verdicts on 13 counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, theft and money laundering, and the court lifted his bond conditions.
- Prosecutors had argued he funneled roughly $2.9–3 million through sham contracts and shell companies and spent the money on personal items, including a $1.4–$1.5 million lakeside home that they say was seized.
- The defense maintained he performed contracted work and cast former human services director John Davis—who has pleaded guilty—as the official who drove the spending decisions.
- After the decision, DiBiase said he was grateful, asserted that “they got it right,” and described seven years of public accusations that he said hurt his family.
- The broader investigation found more than $77 million in TANF funds were misspent; multiple defendants, including nonprofit leaders and DiBiase’s brother, have pleaded guilty, and civil suits continue to seek tens of millions from figures such as Brett Favre and Ted DiBiase Sr.