![http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/JohnFord.jpg"](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a7/JohnFord.jpg"){kind=link}
“I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Posted on 08/28/2007 8:59:59 AM PDT by SmithL
John Ford was sentenced to 66 months in prison this morning for his April conviction of accepting $55,000 in bribes in the FBI's Tennessee Waltz public corruption investigation.
U.S. Dist. Court Judge J. Daniel Breen carefully noted his interpretation of advisory federal guidelines that suggest enhanced punishment for factors such as the amount and number of bribes, threatening witnesses, acceptance of responsibility and the fact that Ford was an elected official.
The judge said he was not convinced that Ford truly believes he did anything wrong and that the sentence must be a deterrence to others.
"The court is not convinced that a reduction for acceptance of responsibility is warranted in this case," Breen said. "This trial reflects a person of greed and avarice, but at the same time a man with the ability to help others. This is the tragic dichotomy of this case.
"The sentence, therefore, should reflect the serious nature of this offense."
Ford, 65, was one of 12 lawmakers or aides charged in the sweeping statewide investigation, 11 of whom have pleaded guilty or been convicted in trial.
Earlier this morning defense attorney Michael Scholl criticized the media and the government for "the persecution of John Ford" over the years.
"What I have seen is John Ford singled out in all of this," Scholl told the judge, noting that other legislators have been convicted and faced lighter sentencing. "John Ford could have gone out and robbed and shot somebody and he would be facing less time than he is now. What I want to emphasize here is all the good that John Ford has done. We can't just wipe out 30 years in the legislature."
Witnesses have testified that the county has suffered in money it gets from the legislature because Ford is no longer there, Scholl added.
He also issued a plea for the judge to consider Ford's support responsibilities for seven of his 12 children.
"John Ford has suffered for two years," Scholl said. "They have taken everything he has. One of the things I've seen in this case is the awesome power of the government."
Federal prosecutor Lorraine Craig said Scholl's comments reflect the problems that the government has with Ford.
"He has been persecuted? He has suffered?" she said. "Is it a surprise that his family and friends did not see the side that we saw on those (undercover) tapes? This was Mr. Ford, the man who makes the deals. The man who goes first class. That's the Mr. Ford we saw."
She said Ford accepts no responsibility for his offense.
"The only thing he says he did wrong was that he trusted too much," Craig told the judge. "No one persecuted Mr. Ford. He is here in this courtroom because of his own criminal conduct."
Hmm, no D anywhere.
Justice!
“Hmm, no D anywhere.”
Yup. First indication this dude is a D is the lack of one in the title. Typical.
I never thought a Memphis Ford would do time. I’m pleased to have been wrong.
Bill and Hillary Clinton don’t think they did anything wrong either.
It isn’t a lie if YOU believe it. - George Constanza < /seinfeld >
Bwaaahaaahaaa, the poor man is a “victim” of his own sweet trusting nature!!
This is the day I’ve been waiting for. 5 and a half years. GREAT! I hope this sentence means that he doesn’t get out early for good behavior or anything else. Now, it’s onto Nashville for that trial. If found guilty there, I hope that whatever sentence he gets is NOT run concurrently with this one. I want them to be consecutive. He’ll be 70 when this sentence is over. Assuming he gets at least the same in Nashville, he’ll be 75 or 76 when he walks out of prison. Too bad, so sad. You make your bed, go sleep in it. Trade in the Italian three-pieces for standard dull prison kit. You’ve earned it.
“I never thought a Memphis Ford would do time” ........ He’ll be out on the street within 9 months.
His brother Emmett did time in federal a couple of decades ago.
My husband and I had that discussion last night. We lived in Memphis 1976-1986. My hubby thought that Ford would get out from serving any time — but I told him that I thought that time had passed, and I thought he would get jail time.
Pleasantly surprised that things have changed and justice prevailed.
Yeah. Trusted that his name, plus the fact that Dems have usually gotten away with taking bribes, would get him no punishment.
Do you think this will drive his sister, Ophelia Ford to drink?
“I didn’t know what I was doing.”
Jeez...another Ford has crashed and burned....and this ain’t even NASCAR! Could not have happened to a better crook.
is “66 months” supposed to sound better or faster than 5.5 years?
Much better than I expected. I feared he’d get probation.
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