Former Deputy Indicted for Threatening Arson and Violence Against Law Enforcement Officers and Courthouse

BOSTON – A former Middlesex County Sheriff’s deputy, Joshua P. Ford, 42, of Kingston, Mass., has been indicted on charges of interstate transmission of threatening communication, accused of plotting to burn down the Plymouth County Courthouse and inflict harm on law enforcement officers. The indictment was handed down by a federal grand jury in Boston and was announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.

Ford, who served as a deputy with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office from approximately 2009 to 2017, allegedly sent a series of threatening emails on March 13, 2023, to nearly 140 recipients, mainly comprised of Massachusetts law enforcement officers. Each email contained similar language, stating, "there is no more justice system anymore just WAR" and urging law enforcement officers to prepare for a confrontation. Ford's emails included a call for officers to equip themselves with firearms and armored vehicles, specifically naming Middlesex County sheriff’s officers and exhorting them to "suit up for a fight."

The crux of Ford's alleged plan was to burn down the Plymouth County Courthouse. His emails contained a link to an 11-minute video titled "War Has Been Declared F***’em All," which Ford had posted on YouTube and the British video hosting service BitChute. In the video, Ford, seen in a kitchen setting, directly addresses the camera, asserting that the justice system is corrupt. The video reportedly features Ford making a range of statements about police officers, correctional officers, court officers, a judge, a prosecutor, defense attorneys, and others.

Ford allegedly singled out Middlesex Sheriff’s officers in the video, stating, "I’m f****** coming. I’m f****** coming, and hell’s f****** coming with me. I’m going to f****** get every last one of you mother*****s. I know where you work. And I am coming to get you." The video further revealed threats to "break the arms and legs of every court officer" and to "kill" court security officers stationed at the Plymouth County Courthouse. Ford urged fellow law enforcement officers to join him in a confrontation scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on March 14, 2023.

Local law enforcement intervened before the scheduled confrontation, arresting Ford on March 13, 2023, after the threatening emails were dispatched.

The charges against Ford each carry a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison, along with three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing decisions will be based on federal guidelines and statutes governing criminal cases.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, jointly announced the indictment. The Kingston Police Department and the Marshfield Police Department played crucial roles in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Beck of the National Security Unit.

It is important to note that the details outlined in the charging documents constitute allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.