Two companies that are backed by Brett Favre are now being sued by the State of Mississippi for allegedly taking millions of dollars in welfare money that is supposed to go towards needy families. Prevacus and PresolMD are both companies founded by Jake VanLandingham that have been attempting to develop a nasal spray and cream to prevent and mitigate the effects of concussions, has been accused of taking over $2.1 million in Mississippi welfare funds. Favre is the largest outside investor in Prevacus, according to the lawsuit, where he claims to have invested $1 million into the companies.
VanLandingham had previously stated that, “I had no idea this was welfare money, and I’ve always been an upstanding person when it comes to research.” However, on top of those accusations, Prevacus and PresolMD have also been accused of exaggerating their connections to the NFL and the effectiveness of their products. Prevacus and PresolMD marketing materials have claimed they have “provided product samples and cultivated relationships with six NFL Active Teams.”
The state’s lawsuit alleges that some of the money that Prevacus and PresolMD had received from Mississippi came through the Mississippi Community Education Center that is ran by Nancy New. Back in April, New had plead guilty to bribery of a public official, fraud against the government, wire fraud, and racketeering. The lawsuit asserts that a sham of a deal was created to benefits New, VanLandingham, and Favre.
Favre also has been receiving heat for his alleged involvement in other areas of the Mississippi welfare scandal. He has been accused of receiving welfare funds in order to build a new volleyball facility at Southern Miss. Text messages from August third, 2017 claim that Favre asked New about privacy regarding payments being made to him. In the text message he wrote, “If you were to pay me is there anyway the media can find out where it came from and how much?” However in a public statement Favre said that, “No one ever told me, and I did not know, that funds designated for welfare recipients were going to the University or me, I tried to help my alma mater USM, a public Mississippi state university, raise funds for a wellness center. My goal was and always will be to improve the athletic facilities at my university.”
—
Leon Brezer / Shutterstock.com