Brett Favre in more trouble over false claim regarding controversial concussion drugs' efficacy
Brett Favre is currently under fire for allegedly being a part of a welfare fund embezzlement scheme in the state of Mississippi.
He's now in even more trouble over two companies he backed that made false claims about the efficacy of their concussion drugs.
What did Brett Favre do? Hall of Famer's troubles deepen
According to documents obtained by ESPN, the companies are also embroiled in the welfare scheme and they exaggerated their NFL connections and the known effectiveness of their drugs.
Two concussion drug companies backed by Brett Favre and involved in a welfare fraud case overstated their NFL connections and exaggerated the known effectiveness of their drugs during efforts to raise money, according to interviews and documents.
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Prevacus and PresolMD are alleged to have received over $2 million in welfare funds to back their drugs. Both companies are owned by Jake VanLandingham, who faced substantial debt over the years and tried to use the drug companies to get out.
However, in an interview with ESPN, VanLandingham said he didn't know the money he was receiving was welfare money:
"I had no idea this was welfare money, and I've always been an upstanding person when it comes to research."
Favre is one of the top investors for these companies, who were working on developing a nasal spray to treat concussions and a cream that could help prevent them.
Brett Favre, concussion drug companies in serious trouble
The same lawsuit that named Favre as one who contributed to the embezzlement of welfare funds also named VanLandingham.
Neither party was charged in 2020 when the initial arrests and charges for the scheme were handed out, but they're among 38 people and companies named in the current civil suit.
The lawsuit alleges that Favre, VanLandingham and others created a fake agreement to benefit many defendants in the case, namely the aforementioned drug companies.
The NFL did know about the companies and their attempts to create concussion-related drugs. However, according to a statement, they provided no financial or other resources to them and remain innocent in this scheme:
"The league office was contacted by this organization but provided no funding or any resources in support of its efforts."
The lawsuit is currently ongoing and no punishment has been handed down for either the former Green Bay Packers quarterback or the companies yet.