Drug Companies Backed By Brett Favre Allegedly Connected To Mississippi Welfare Scandal
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As investigations continue into Brett Favre‘s alleged involvement in the Mississippi welfare scandal, two drug companies that are backed by the Hall of Famer have been accused of being connected to the situation. Legal documents obtained by ESPN say the two concussion drug companies, Prevacus (now known as Odyssey Health) and PresolMD, had allegedly “overstated their NFL connections and exaggerated the known effectiveness of their drugs during efforts to raise money.”
In the filed civil suit, the founder of both companies, Jake VanLandingham, has been accused of receiving more than $2.1 million in welfare funds from Mississippi’s state government. VanLandingham also allegedly accumulated a large amount of debt in recent years. Landingham denied the allegations against him when speaking to ESPN.
“I had no idea this was welfare money, and I’ve always been an upstanding person when it comes to research.”
Favre broke his silence on October 11th to address the allegations against him. The Hall of Famer claimed to Fox News Digital that his name has been unjustifiably “smeared” by the media. “I have done nothing wrong, and it is pastime to set the record straight,” Favre said.
“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 [University of Southern Mississippi], 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.”
On September 30th, Soccer Hall of Famer Abby Wambach announced that she would be separating from Odyssey Health. The company was reportedly first allegedly linked to the welfare scandal in February 2020, after arrests were initially made. The majority of the details surrounding the suit were initially reported by Mississippi Today. Details claimed that Favre and others allegedly attempted to obtain money from the state and state officials, as well as non-profit officials, to help fund the concussion drug company. Favre is accused of promising shares of stock to public officials in exchange for them committing state funds to various causes he was connected with.
Wambach also announced in 2016 that her brain will be used for concussion research following her death. The soccer legend had previously appeared on the “Today” show alongside Warner, Favre, and company founder Dr. Jacob VanLandingham with the goal of discussing the severity of concussions as well as promoting the drug company. Favre initially joined the drug company back in 2014, and soon became the largest investor and stockholder in the company by the end of 2018.
Sports Illustrated has more HERE.
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