A former sheriff’s deputy was indicted in a Massachusetts federal court for allegedly threatening to burn down a courthouse and kill court security officers, according to an official statement.
Joshua P. Ford, 42, of Kingston, Massachusetts, “was indicted on three counts of interstate transmission of a threatening communication. Ford is currently in state custody and will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston at a later date,” the statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts reads.
Ford, who served as Middlesex County Sheriff’s deputy from about 2009 – 2017, “sent 12 emails to a total of about 140 people, almost all Massachusetts law enforcement officers” on March 13, 2023, saying, “‘[there] is no more justice system anymore just WAR” and “I am calling on all able bodied officers my brothers in blue to suit up for a fight. Ford then allegedly asked those law enforcement officers to arm themselves with firearms and armored vehicles and declared, ‘Tomorrow we burn down the Plymouth County Court house to the ground,'” the statement further reads. (RELATED: Man Sentenced To Prison For Threatening MTG)
He also said he needs to “get” sheriff’s officers currently serving in his county, according to the attorney’s office.
#BREAKING: As a result of an #FBI Boston investigation, former @msosheriff deputy Joshua P. Ford, of Kingston, MA, was indicted today for allegedly threatening to burn down the Plymouth County Courthouse and kill law enforcement officers. https://t.co/MewSOkUzfY
— FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) August 30, 2023
Ford allegedly included in the emails a link to an 11-minute video titled, “War Has Been Declared F***’em All,” in which he alleged that the justice system was corrupt and made various statements, including threats to Middlesex Sheriff’s officers, per the statement. He allegedly threatened , “‘And guess what? I’m f****** coming … I know where you work. And I am coming to get you.'”
Ford also allegedly threatened to “break the arms and legs of every court officer” and to “kill” Plymouth County Courthouse security officers.
Ford allegedly also sought to incite other officers to provide material support for his confrontation scheduled for 8:30 a.m. March 14, 2023, but was arrested March 13 after he sent the emails, the statement noted.
Ford faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted of each of the three charges, according to the authorities.