NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre repays $600,000 in welfare fraud money to Mississippi

Former Green Bay Packers quarterback and NFL hall-of-famer Brett Favre has repaid the state of Mississippi $600,000 that he owed following the improper receipt of the money as part of an extensive fraud scheme. 

Favre still owes $228,000 in interest that he could be sued for failing to pay. According to the state's auditor, Shad White, the former NFL star was improperly paid $1.1 million in welfare funds in December 2017 and June 2018. The funds were funneled to Favre via the Mississippi Community Education Center, a nonprofit organization that paid him speaking fees for appearances he never made.

The quarterback was one of 10 individuals who were sent letters from White's office this month demanding the repayment of tens of millions of dollars connected to an extensive scheme that included millions in misspent welfare benefits.

White said that Favre had no idea the money he was given had been intended to benefit needy families. In May 2020, Favre agreed to make a $500,000 payment to the auditor's office and to pay the rest over the next several month.

Favre was raised in Mississippi and played football for the University of Southern Mississippi before spending 20 seasons with the NFL.

According to an audit by White's office in May 2020, the state of Mississippi had allowed millions of dollars in funds meant to help alleviate poverty to be used in ways that had nothing to do with benefitting the poor. Two nonprofit groups in particular used funds on lobbyists, football and concert tickets, and fitness programs for state lawmakers.