Former Sen. John Ford Indicted for Fraud

A former state senator will be arrested today by U-S Marshals and brought before a federal judge in Nashville tomorrow morning on new fraud charges.

Former Memphis legislator John Ford will answer to charges that as senator he helped two healthcare companies win TennCare contracts. Ford was a member of the Senate Finance Committee and the TennCare oversight committee. The indictments allege Ford received more than 800-thousand dollars for his services through a consulting firm, of which he was partial owner.

U-S Attorney Craig Morford says Ford had a duty as state senator but failed to disclose all sources of his private income.

“The facts that are alleged in this indictment reveal an appalling willingness by Senator Ford to violate that duty by using his public position for personal gain.”

Prosecutors won’t say whether there will be more arrests, but the indictments state that the two companies – Doral Dental and Omnihealth – did know of John Ford’s position as senator.

Ford resigned from the legislature last year after he was accused of taking bribes in a separate investigation. Morford says the most recent indictment is not directly connected to the Tennessee Waltz sting which ensnared five current or former lawmakers for taking bribes. Ford has pleaded not guilty in that case, and a trial date has been set for February 5th.