Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr. has been indicted in federal court on a single charge of bribery and kickbacks, according to documents filed in federal court. Ford also faces six counts of tax evasion related to the accusations.
The second-term commissioner surrendered to federal authorities Friday morning, Feb. 28.
His attorney, Michael Scholl, said Ford is innocent of the charges.
According to the indictment, three unnamed nonprofits deposited $250,000 into bank accounts of businesses connected to Ford. In return, the nonprofits received grants from the Memphis City Council and later the Shelby County Commission from 2017 to 2021, the indictment states.
Several unnamed individuals are also mentioned in the indictment.
A $450,000 grant to Junior Achievement in exchange for a purchase of laptop computers from the Ford-owned E&J Computer Services and Repair was the tip of the iceberg that exposed a wider effort to benefit from public money and conceal the proceeds from the Internal Revenue Service, according to the court filing. The Memphis Commercial Appeal first reported the alleged enterprise in 2020.
“In 2021, and at Ford Jr.’s direction, Individuals 1, 2 and 3 began to disguise payments to Ford Jr.,” the indictment reads.
It also says Ford sent a text to Individual 1 on Jan. 1, 2020, suggesting a conversation “this week re: your nonprofit.” An email was sent from Individual 1 to Ford Jan. 7, 2020.
A day later, Ford replied that he was “going to send today,” according to the indictment. On Jan. 9, Individual 1 replied, “Got it!”
“GOOD. Let’s get you/us that money,” Ford replied on Jan. 10, the indictment continued.
The commission sponsored a resolution Feb. 24, 2020, to award $28,500 to a single nonprofit. Ford failed to disclose a relationship with that nonprofit or recuse himself, according to the indictment.
Ford served on the Memphis City Council from 2007 to 2018. He was elected to the county commission in 2018. The terms slightly overlapped, so he briefly served on both government bodies. His cousin, Justin Ford, previously represented his District 9 seat on the commission. His father, Edmund Ford Sr., currently represents District 6 on the city council.
The indictment elaborates on how Ford used his seats on both the council and commission to limit the number of nonprofits eligible for grants.
As it is with many government bodies, grants to nonprofits are a routine part of business for both the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission. Detractors criticize the practice for its potential for abuse through political patronage.
Precise Solutions and Consulting LLC is another Ford Jr.-owned business that drew business from nonprofits that received grants from the commission and council.
