Former WWE wrestler Ted DiBiase Jr. has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Mississippi’s massive welfare fraud case which accuses companies run by DiBiase of misspending millions in welfare funds through “sham contracts” awarded by co-conspirators in charge of the welfare program.

Court documents indicate DiBiase’s companies obtained federal welfare funds from the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs which were “misappropriated for their own use and benefit,” according to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Jackson, Miss.

The indictment was unsealed Thursday, two days after it was issued by a grand jury.

The indictment says co-conspirator John Davis, former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, would direct his department to subgrant the funds to two nonprofit organizations — Family Resource Center of North Mississippi and Mississippi Community Education Center — which were operated by co-conspirators Christi Webb and Nancy New, respectively.

Davis would then direct Webb and New to award “sham contracts” to individuals and entities supposedly for social services, including at least five such contracts issued in 2017 and 2018 to Priceless Ventures LLC and Familiae Orientem LLC, two companies operated by DiBiase.

The indictment says those companies never provided the social services for which the contracts called nor had there been any intent to do so.

Instead, the indictment says, DiBiase used the illegally-obtained federal funds to purchase a vehicle, a boat and to make a downpayment on a house, among other expenditures.

DiBiase is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds; six counts of wire fraud; two counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and four counts of money laundering.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the conspiracy count, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and for each count of money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Davis has already pleaded guilty to charges against him in the welfare case — described as the largest public corruption case in Mississippi history.

Likewise, DiBiase’s brother, former wrestler Brett DiBiase, has also pleaded guilty to state and federal charges stemming from the case.

The welfare scandal has been tied to numerous high-profile figures, including WWE Hall of Famer Ted DiBiase Sr. and NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre. Ted DiBiase Sr., Ted DiBiase Jr. and Favre, along with former college football star Marcus Dupree and NFL linebacker Paul Lacoste, are among 38 people being sued by the State of Mississippi in an attempt to recoup some $24 million in misappropriated welfare funds.

“Prosecutors decide whom to charge with a crime, and we’re grateful to see them continuing to advance this case,” said State Auditor Shad White of the indictment against DiBiase Jr. “We will continue to support their efforts with the evidence that our investigators and federal investigators have uncovered.”

Although Mississippi has consistently ranked as one of the poorest states in the nation, the federal funds intended to help needy families was instead used for pet projects for the rich and famous, including $5 million for a volleyball arena Favre had lobbied for at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he played collegiately and his daughter was a volleyball player.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.