The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The government closed its extortion case against retired Norfolk Detective Robert Glenn Ford on Friday with a witness who said he and Ford split thousands of dollars in Crime Line money in the 1990s.
The witness, Antonio Shaw, testified in U.S. District Court that he had been a longtime Ford informant and provided useful information that helped solve one homicide. But three or four other times, Shaw said, he and Ford split the reward money without Shaw providing any information on crimes.
Shaw, who's been out of trouble since 2002 and working full time, said Ford also helped him fix two traffic tickets for friends, for $300 each, and helped in a criminal case in exchange for a $500 fee.
Ford isn't charged with a crime for these alleged events, which occurred in the mid-1990s. Prosecutors presented the evidence to show a pattern that followed Ford through the last 12 or 15 years of his career.
Shaw and Ford lost touch with each other, but Shaw called him earlier this year after seeing Ford's case reported in the news.
Prosecutors played a voice mail that Ford later left for Shaw in which he said, "I really need your help." Shaw instead went to the FBI with what he knew.
Ford, who retired in 2007, faces extortion charges alleging that he took bribes from eight criminals between 2003 and 2007 in exchange for getting them favorable treatment in the court system. Ford claimed that these individuals provided useful tips that solved homicides, but witnesses testified that no valuable information was ever provided.
Also Friday, an FBI financial analyst testified that Ford's bank records between 2003 and 2007 showed more than $44,000 in cash deposits on top of his salaries from the Police Department and a part-time job.
The analyst, Teresa Gillis, said no records exist to indicate where the money came from. FBI agent Christopher Emsley testified Friday about confronting Ford with the allegations earlier this year. Ford told Emsley that the eight people were his informants but denied taking money from any of them.
"I think his statement was he didn't take a dime," Emsley said.
But according to the testimony of the eight witnesses, Ford would have received a total of around $70,000 from them.
In one case described earlier in the week, David "Cheese" Brooks said he paid Ford, through an intermediary, $18,000 to stop a planned drug raid on his house. He said he later paid Ford another $18,000 to help him avoid prison in a drug case.
The intermediary, Marcus Adams, testified that Brooks paid Ford a total of around $19,000, which conflicts with what Brooks said.
After calling 41 witnesses over three days, federal prosecutors rested just before lunch. The jury was sent home, and Ford's attorneys will begin presenting their defense Monday morning.
Tim McGlone, (757) 446-2343, tim.mcglone@pilotonline.com
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What to do?
Put him in a cell with a big guy named Bubba!
Stupid Ignorant And Lost People Wake Up!
You mean to tell me that all police officers are law abiding citizens? What planet are you really from? He got what was due to him from years of thinking he could get away with doing anything he wanted to. Wake up Joe Public police officers are just as bad as everyone else. One out of ten? No more like three to four out of ten if you ask me. That's why it's called the thin blue line? Thats why they are never charged with murdering anybody! Check the facts. When was the last time one was charged? That's right never! Child Please!
I FEEL SORRY FOR NORFOLK PD
And all the honest officers who serve the public every day. But they had a rogue police officer in their midst for years and way too many people must have closed their eyes to his actions for him to get away with it for so long. It is pretty darn clear after the forensic financial guys identified $44K dollars in deposits over and above his salary that he took money. Unless he he can explain it by saying he was doing private security details, which many officers do, but then he'd have a 1099 or two, wouldn't he? If I'm on the jury you'd have to have an awesome defense to convince me to acquit. I sure hope he doesn't have Brocoletti as his attorney!
So, Norfolk has a crooked PD to go along with their crooks in the city administration. I'm thinking the NPD Chief ought to follow Regina out the door...
Karma
This is the same man who coierced 4 confessions from 4 innocent young Navy men in 1997. One of the confessions he obtained was so far from the evidence the suspect had to write it again. He also intimidated the real killer (the one whose actuall DNA was at the scene) into testifying that the other 4 men helped him even though there was NO evidence to support that claim. Out of these four men, one has fought and won to have his conviction overturned. The other three where released on conditional pardons. They spent over 11 years in jail and still are convicted felons and sex offenders. Four innocent men whose lives have been ruined because of the deeds of a corrupt system. Go look it up look at the pictures of the lives he destroyed. They could have been your kids. Don't pity this man or give him false accolades. Let Karma do its thing!
This is getting old..
This is not the time for the Norfolk Four to promote their book. SO, please stop. After 15 years of this nonsense, it gets pretty old. And just to state a fact once again, all of the men of the Norfolk Four did not actually confess to Ford, they confessed to another detective too, but you do not see the public/norfolk doing this to that man. Give it up. Please! They all 4 raped and murdered that girl. They got prison time, which is what they deserved. Let it go.
Crooked Cops
Ford was under investigation for many years and retired with a pension. His antics as a crooked police officer proves that we have a tendency to over look the racist attitudes of the City of Norfolk. In 1975 Detective Alfred Fenner allegedly took money from drug dealers and was excommunicated not just from the police force after putting his life on the line and going undercover, but from living in the City of Norfolk. Jesse Robertson another narcotic officer faced disgruntled charges of bribery and ended up commiting suicide on Christmas day in 1977. These Black officers did not have the chances that Ford did. He should be punished according to the law for crimes just like the persons he took money from. And do not leave out Chuck Griffith, the so called federal prosecutor who allowed drug dealers leniency for fabricated testimony.
I'm just glad it went to trial,
that's what separates us from our southern border neighbors.
Government Witchhunt
One whole week of testimony from individuals with multiple felony convictions and it's anyones guess if they are being honest. That's the best that they can do???? It is a scarey place when a federal prosecutor can hold a gudge on someone for years and then when the time finally comes when they can get a defendant to say what they want to hear for a good chance at a reduced sentence, completely ruin the life of a man who spent 30 plus years fighting to keep the citizens of Norfolk safe. Even if aquitted, this man who fought and bled and protected us from a segment of society that most people would like to pretend does'nt exist, has had his life and reputation dragged through the mud and finacially ruined. Too bad for the Fed's that the witnesses who accually take there oath to tell the truth seriously couldn't be coached by the FBI to say what they wanted the jury to hear!!!!
This could happen to any one of us. Shame on them all.
please
could u please speak what u know cause u r not talking abt FORD here cause the FEDS got the rite person his time is UP...... he been crooked for years.....GREAT JOB FEDS keep going and u will find MORE in the system
Reality is not "Law and Order" or "Matlock"
I can't imagine a lawyer asking a question that he/she didn't already know the answer. Harper Lee must be required reading in law school.
So of course they are coached but probably not told what to say but told what to expect, but then how many convicted criminals don't what is expected at trial.
I hope that he is found not guilty. He probably touched the line and may have even crossed it occassionally but the laws were written by people who want the ideal not the real. Remember the rules forbidding the CIA from dealing with "bad guys" - how did that work out? As long as he did not PERSONALLY profit and no evidence was planted and no one died (or was maimed) from his actions then why is he being prosecuted?
Glad that in America that people are innocent until found guilty and then still have a chance to be found innocent.