Pulitzer-Winning Reporter Who Exposed Welfare Scheme Involving Brett Favre Is Facing Potential Jail Time

Just over a year ago, Anna Wolfe won the Pulitzer Prize for her reporting on the Mississippi welfare fraud scheme and scandal with ties to former NFL quarterback Brett Favre. Now, after being recognized as one of the top journalists in the United States, she and her editor, Adam Ganucheau, are facing potential jail time.

Wolfe and Ganucheau were sued for defamation by Mississippi's former governor Phil Bryant - who was a key subject in their reporting - and have recently been given a court order requiring them to turn over internal files which include the names of confidential sources. 

Not one person alleged to have been involved in the $77 million welfare scheme has been put behind bars, something Wolfe is certainly well aware of. Despite the reality they may face, Wolfe doesn't appear to be willing to hand over the names of her confidential sources.

"If one of us goes to jail, we will be the first person to go to jail in the Mississippi welfare scandal," Wolfe told NBC News. "How can I make promises to sources that I’m going to keep them confidential if this is possible?"

Brett Favre has not been charged with any crimes involving the welfare scheme in Mississippi. (Getty Images via Getty Images)

Mississippi Today, the non-profit that employs Ganucheau and Wolfe, is challenging the court order from Bryant demanding source names through an appeal to the state's Supreme Court. If the order is not overturned, the two could face charges if they do not comply, which may result in prison time.

Favre's involvement dates back to July 2017 when he became interested in funding a new volleyball facility for his alma mater, The University of Southern Mississippi. His daughter, Breleigh, ended up playing both indoor and beach volleyball at the university, which is located in Hattiesburg.

Alleged text messages from Favre from August 2017, which were unearthed in 2022, suggest the former NFL QB knew this could cause bad publicity.

"If you were to pay me is there any way the media can find out where it came from and how much?" Favre allegedly sent to Nancy New, a Southern Miss athletic staffer.

In October 2017, $5 million worth of federal dollars was committed for a new volleyball facility. Another $1.1 million involving Favre's alleged involvement went towards promotional work with $2.1 million going to Prevacus, a drug company the former QB owned stock in. 

Favre, who has not been charged with a crime, was ordered by a court to pay back $1.1 million of the $77 million that was funneled. He reportedly paid back the $1.1 million request in two payments.

It would be nothing short of astonishing to see the first, and maybe only people, put behind bars involved in the largest public fraud case in the state's history be the reporter and editors who broke the story.