PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (WWSB) – A former Charlotte County deputy has agreed to plead guilty in federal court to coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, according to a plea agreement filed this week in the Middle District of Florida.
James Gregory Ford agreed to plead guilty to Count One of the indictment, court records show. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. Prosecutors also agreed to dismiss Count Two at sentencing under the plea deal.
Ford was initially arrested by the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office at the end of October after a Texas agency notified them of inappropriate messages between Ford and a child. He was re-arrested in December by federal agents on charges of harmful communication with a minor.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE | Former Charlotte County deputy agrees to plead guilty to federal child exploitation charge
According to court records filed April 21, the incident occurred between Oct. 12 and Oct. 28, 2025. Investigators said a parent of a prepubescent child contacted law enforcement after finding conversations, nude images and videos on the child’s cellphone.
Ford used TikTok to send inappropriate messages to a 10-year-old girl living in Texas. The girl told investigators a man online asked for nude pictures of her and sent her photos of his genitals.
The plea agreement said investigators identified Ford through a nude image, a screen name and other account identifiers. Texas investigators used one of those images to connect the account to Ford.
Court records said Ford later met with law enforcement in Charlotte County, waived his Miranda rights and admitted to exchanging inappropriate messages and images with the child.
Authorities later obtained search warrants for Ford’s Port Charlotte home and iPhone, according to the filing. A forensic review of the phone allegedly found the account used to communicate with the child, along with images and videos of the child.
Under the plea agreement, Ford also agreed to make full restitution to the victim. He also agreed to forfeit and abandon his Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, according to the filing.
Copyright 2026 WWSB. All rights reserved.