News

Humboldt County Superior Court Judge Christopher Wilson sentenced John Ford to serve 90 days in jail and five years probation after the former insurance broker pleaded guilty to felony embezzlement.

An investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office and the California Office of Insurance alleged that Ford contracted with various clients in 2016, including several cannabis businesses looking for insurance policies, but simply pocketed premium payments rather than purchasing policies. He was charged with 13 counts of embezzlement and grand theft.

According to a press release from the DA's office, Ford's sentence includes an order to make restitution payments to all victims.

Read the full press release copied below:

PRESS RELEASE

September 25, 2020

District Attorney Maggie Fleming announced that on September 24, 2020, Judge Christopher Wilson sentenced former insurance broker, John Ray James Ford, to five years of formal probation and 90 days in jail. Mr. Ford pled guilty to violating Penal Code Section 503, felony embezzlement. A client and the client’s attorney first reported misappropriation of funds by Mr. Ford to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). The HCSO, Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, and the California Department of Insurance then collaborated on an investigation. The investigation revealed that in 2016, Mr. Ford had contracted with various clients, including cannabis-related businesses, to broker insurance policies on their behalf. After receiving premium payments from clients, he either did not put coverage in place or established policies that were subsequently cancelled by the insurer for non-payment. Mr. Ford used the payments from clients for his own business and personal expenses. Mr. Ford’s sentence includes an order to make restitution to all victims.