Ford directed more funding to nonprofits tied to alleged scheme
by: Jessica Gertler
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — WREG Investigators are uncovering new information related to the nonprofits allegedly tied to Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.’s federal indictment.
According to county records, Ford tried directing even more money to the organizations on other occasions not listed in the indictment.
Commissioner Ford turned himself in Friday for his alleged scheme. According to the federal court records, he is accused of directing taxpayer dollars to certain nonprofits and those nonprofits would then reportedly buy computers from Ford’s company or funnel funds into his business or personal bank accounts.
The indictment doesn’t name the nonprofits involved, but Your News Leader matched the info detailed in the indictment to commission meeting minutes and agendas. We found three nonprofits that seem to match: Prime Time Parenting, Memphis Women Aiming High, Inc. and UCAN of Memphis.
The mission of all three is to help youth in some way. The indictment suggests Ford helped those nonprofits get hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grants.
There were even more times Ford directed funding to those nonprofits in question that were not listed in the indictment.
“One deals with Prime Time Parenting in the amount of $75,000 from the education fund,” Ford stated at a commission meeting in June 2022.
Ford made a motion to amend the budget at that meeting and allocate the money to Prime Time Parenting. It ultimately passed with the budget, meaning it didn’t have to get further contract approval.
During the FY24 budget discussions, it seems he tried to do it again. This time the resolution he sponsored was for $100,000.
It passed during the committee meeting, but the next month, Ford stated he would take it off the list to help balance the budget.
“Even though I found the funding source, as I always do, I’m willing to give that one up to vote on the other ones,” Ford said during the June 2023 full commission meeting.
Commissioners also have access to the Community Enhancement Grant Program. On the county’s website, it explains that basically they each have access to “funds to allocate within their individual district to nonprofits” as well as “other governmental and quasi-governmental agencies.”
Ford accessed those funds in June 2022 and May 2023, according to the minutes we found, giving UCAN of Memphis a combined $10,000.
In 2022, UCAN stated in its application the money would be used to provide “workbooks, supplies, professional speakers, laptops, padfolios, blazers and pearls for male and female students.”
In 2023, it stated the funding would pay for “educational and recreational field trips, school supplies , programming, staffing development, student professional development, student incentives”
Federal authorities, again, haven’t named any organizations and haven’t said anything about the additional grants we found.
Your News Leader did reach out to the nonprofits allegedly involved but haven’t heard back.
The state’s website states UCAN reported $111,000 in total revenue last year and Prime Time Parenting reported $15,000. We are still trying to find financials on the third nonprofit.
Ford’s attorney defended his innocence Friday. His father, Edmund Ford Sr., was also present.
“God is good all the time, and y’all will be surprised,” Ford Sr. said. “My son is very good, very great person. When you try to do things for the community and things like that, you get bad people always focusing on that good person.”
Ford is also accused of not reporting any income he received on his taxes. He is due back in court later this week.
Monday morning, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announced a meeting will be held this week with “relevant legal authorities and county officials” to figure out the next step.
He added in part, “Considering these allegations of criminal corruption, it is appropriate for the Commission to stop Commissioner Ford from additional grant-making and participating in the County grant-making process while the prosecution is on-going.”
Commissioner Mick Wright is also calling for change. In a statement on Facebook, he said he spent the weekend reviewing records related to the commission’s grant program.
He added, “We need reform and enhance the county’s technology and data processes so the public can easily access records.”
He said he will be working to restore public confidence in county government by providing an accounting of his participation in the program, supporting reforms to the program, advocating for better technology and data sharing processes and maintaining an open door policy with citizens and media.
About Post Author
