Podcaster indicted on new charges

SANDUSKY — Local podcaster Ashli Ford was recently indicted on two additional felony charges relating to allegations that she forged documents on a home mortgage loan. On Monday, Ford, 40, of Milan, was indicted by an Erie County grand jury on one count of tampering with records, a third-degree felony, and one count of identity fraud, a second-degree felony. According to this most recent indictment, between January and December 2022, Ford allegedly "without the express or implied consent" of the alleged victim and co-signer of the home loan obtained their "personal identifying information" with the intent of portraying herself as that person. The grand jury reportedly "examined over five witnesses" before issuing the indictment against Ford, according to a grand jury report. Ford was first indicted by the Erie County grand jury in this case in July on the following charges: • Two counts of tampering with records, both third-degree felonies • One count of forgery, a third-degree felony • One count of aggravated theft, a third-degree felony • One count of securing writings by deception, a third-degree felony Ford has an upcoming court hearing scheduled for this case at 10 a.m. on Sept. 30. Background Erie County prosecutor Kevin Baxter said that the charges listed in this case are unrelated to Ford's recent criminal trial, where she was found guilty by a judge on four felony intimidation charges relating to threats posted online against local government officials. On Aug. 18, Ford was sentenced to serve three years of probation, meaning she will avoid jail time as long as she abides by the terms of her probation, which includes having no contact with the victims in the case and maintaining full-time employment. Baxter said that the alleged crimes in the mortgage fraud case occurred in 2022 and that his office was first made aware of the allegations on June 10, when a foreclosure action was filed against Ford and the alleged victim and co-signer of the loan. Baxter added that the situation stemmed from a previous foreclosure that began on Jan. 31, 2020, which prompted an agreement between the co-signer and Ford to sell the home and use the money to pay off the delinquencies. Instead of selling the home, Ford allegedly forged the co-signer's signature to obtain a federal loan and used that money to pay off the loan deficiency, dismiss the foreclosure and modify the original loan — both of which were allegedly executed on Sept. 16, 2022, and relating to a home in the 500 block of E. Mason Road. Ford, who executed the filing, allegedly listed herself and the co-signer as having a familial relationship when that was not the case, Baxter said. The signatures on the documents were those of the alleged co-signer and Ford — the prosecutor contends Ford allegedly forged the co-signer's signature — and which Baxter said misrepresents the relationship between the two at the time of the filing. "In other words, over $30,000 was paid by the federal government to the loan lending institution so that they can bring (Ford) up to current with the loan," Baxter said. "The initial foreclosure was dismissed, but they are deficient and behind on their payments again."