FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 2/19/10) Former Tennessee State Senator John Ford has a new home, and this time, he's a lot closer to friends and family. Exactly how and why he's here is a complete mystery.
The FBI snagged Ford in the Tennessee Waltz corruption sting, sending him to Federal prison. Since then, he's made several moves -- sometimes with the help of influential politicians -- and now News Channel 3 has learned he's in Federal prison in Memphis.
Ford drove into minimum security Federal prison in Pollock, Louisiana in April, 2008 -- almost a year after he was sentenced in the Tennessee Waltz sting. From there, he transferred to a Federal prison in Big Spring, Texas, nearly 900 miles away from home. The Ford family made a call to Congressman Steve Cohen's office, hoping to move him closer to Memphis. Rep. Cohen greased the wheels, and in August 2009, Ford transferred to Yazoo City, Mississippi. It's a move that congressmen often make to help bring inmates closer to their families.
"It's not an unusual situation at all to be contacted by family of a prisoner, regarding the prisoner's location," says Marilyn Dillihay of Rep. Cohen's office.
Wednesday, 67 year-old Ford moved again, this time to Memphis and Cohen's office says they weren't involved.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons says there are many reasons inmates move but could not say why Ford was transferred Wednesday. It's unclear how long Ford will be in Memphis or why he's here. His former attorney, Michael Scholl, says even he says he wasn't aware of the latest transfer.
There are no indications whether Ford was brought to Memphis to be even closer to family or if he's involved in another court proceeding. At this point, it's all still a mystery.
- Former TN State Senator John Ford sentenced to Federal prison
- Transferred several times to be closer to family in Memphis
- Transferred Wednesday to Memphis prison, reason unknown
(Memphis 2/19/10) Former Tennessee State Senator John Ford has a new home, and this time, he's a lot closer to friends and family. Exactly how and why he's here is a complete mystery.
The FBI snagged Ford in the Tennessee Waltz corruption sting, sending him to Federal prison. Since then, he's made several moves -- sometimes with the help of influential politicians -- and now News Channel 3 has learned he's in Federal prison in Memphis.
Ford drove into minimum security Federal prison in Pollock, Louisiana in April, 2008 -- almost a year after he was sentenced in the Tennessee Waltz sting. From there, he transferred to a Federal prison in Big Spring, Texas, nearly 900 miles away from home. The Ford family made a call to Congressman Steve Cohen's office, hoping to move him closer to Memphis. Rep. Cohen greased the wheels, and in August 2009, Ford transferred to Yazoo City, Mississippi. It's a move that congressmen often make to help bring inmates closer to their families.
"It's not an unusual situation at all to be contacted by family of a prisoner, regarding the prisoner's location," says Marilyn Dillihay of Rep. Cohen's office.
Wednesday, 67 year-old Ford moved again, this time to Memphis and Cohen's office says they weren't involved.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons says there are many reasons inmates move but could not say why Ford was transferred Wednesday. It's unclear how long Ford will be in Memphis or why he's here. His former attorney, Michael Scholl, says even he says he wasn't aware of the latest transfer.
There are no indications whether Ford was brought to Memphis to be even closer to family or if he's involved in another court proceeding. At this point, it's all still a mystery.
