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Auditor: More than $4M stolen from Mississippi welfare funds

Posted at 5:10 PM, Feb 06, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-06 19:10:40-05

Mississippi's state auditor says at least $4 million in federal welfare money was stolen by the former head of the state welfare agency and others in the nation's poorest state.

Indictments issued Wednesday say $48,000 paid for a luxury drug rehabilitation program for a former pro wrestler. Investigators say a politically connected nonprofit administrator and her son took more than $4 million. Gov. Tate Reeves praised the auditor Thursday, saying the investigation has uncovered what seemed to be in his words a truly disgusting abuse of power."

Reeves says he received campaign contributions from some of those indicted, and his campaign will not keep the money.