Marcus Dupree, who rose to fame in Mississippi and beyond after a brief but impressive football career that became the subject of an ESPN documentary, is speaking out about his alleged role in a welfare fraud case that has entangled Hall of Fame NFL quarterback and many other people.
The Mississippi Department of Human Services filed a lawsuit accusing Dupree of being paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal welfare money that was intended for needy families. Dupree denied the allegations in an interview.
Dupree doesn't like being lumped into something like taking money. I worked too hard to be the right person and I don't like what's happening.
Dupree was the most sought after football recruit in the country when he was a high school running back. Dupree's career was hampered by injuries after he excelled in his freshman season. The best that never was was the subject of a 2010 documentary.
Dupree remained a local celebrity in his home state during his playing days.
The results of a state audit in Mississippi became public and a lawsuit was filed by the state against Dupree, his foundation and many other defendants.
Dupree was paid $371,000 from TANF funds.
In exchange for Dupree's work as a celebrity endorser and motivational speaker, Families First for Mississippi funneled federal welfare money to him, according to the lawsuit.
An investigation by Mississippi Today revealed that the nonprofits that paid Dupree and others either misspent or stole at least $77 million in welfare funds.
Dupree was shocked to learn that Nancy New, the head of the Mississippi Community Education Center, pleaded guilty to 13 felony counts. Dupree didn't know that New had misappropriated welfare funds to pay him.
According to a state audit, Dupree was paid for teaching people how to ride horses.
White's office found limited evidence that Dupree or anyone else ever provided those services to the needy.
Dupree says he taught teens at his farm.
If you want to ride a horse, I'd let you do it if you're good at it. The parents wanted to be with me. Dupree said that he was passionate about what he did and for the state to be talking about it.
Dupree worked for the state as a liaison for Families First and as a mentor at his horse farm, but he couldn't say how many times he helped teens.
I was all over the place. Dupree did his job after signing a contract.
"I'm getting lumped in with whatever Brett Favre and the Governor had going on. I didn't even know about that, nothing. I was shocked when I heard it. I can't wait until we go to court. I don't know what Brett did. I can only speak for Marcus." Marcus Dupree on fraud allegations
Dupree provided several photos of what appear to be teenage boys, whom he says he taught at his stables in Flora.
If Mr. Dupree wants to argue that the amounts he was paid were justified for the number of speeches he gave, he will be able to do that in a court.
Dupree's foundation bought the horse farm and residence in Flora for $855,000 in April of last year. The home is 4,100 square feet and has five bedrooms.
$171,000 in TANF money was used to make a down payment on Dupree's home.
White said that purchasing real property with TANF funds wouldn't be allowed. The use of federal welfare money to purchase a five-bedroom home and a horse farm for a state-contracted employee was unreasonable.
According to the state audit, the nonprofit that funneled the money to Dupree guaranteed the residence through the bank for six years. According to the audit, the monthly lease payments for the property were $9500.
Dupree doesn't intend to pay the state back. Dupree is waiting to see how it goes.
The lawyer for Dupree sent a letter to White.
No payment will be made in response to your demand. Mr. Dupree didn't have a reason to believe that the money he was paid was being wasted.
Six people have been indicted in the case. Five have been sentenced.
Dupree is one of the people facing criminal charges, but he is not one of the people facing civil charges. Text messages show that he pressured Phil Bryant, the former governor of Mississippi, to get $5 million in funds for a new volleyball center at the University of Southern Mississippi. The man has denied any wrongdoing.
Negative press has hurt Dupree's reputation.
I'm getting lumped in with everything that happened. I had no idea about that. I was surprised by it. We are going to court. I have no idea what he did. I can't say anything else for Marcus.
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