Senator Ford Indicted Again For Corruption

December 18th, 2006

Memphis, TN - Former Tennessee Senator John Ford has been indicted on charges of corruption over consulting deals he had with state contractors.

The indictment, unsealed on Monday, December 18, 2006, is the second public corruption charge against John Ford in the past two years.

Prosecutors charge that Ford was a consultant to contractors with a Medicaid program while at the same time chairman of a committee that oversaw the program.

Prosecutors said the two deals paid Ford more than $800,000.

The U.S. Attorney in Nashville said when John Ford was working as a state senator, he was also working as a consultant for two health care companies.

The indictment said Ford used his power as a state senator to help both companies get multi-million dollar contracts with the state of Tennessee.

It also said he was getting illegally paid by the companies for his help. Ford is charged with two counts of wire fraud and four counts of concealing material facts.

The wire fraud charges could result in a 20 year prison sentence.