24-05-2025
Popular female podcaster is convicted for meddling with criminal case
A popular true crime podcaster from Ohio has been convicted on multiple felony intimidation charges after 'threatening' public officials in a Facebook post.
Ashli Ford, 40, was found guilty Thursday of four counts of intimidation stemming from a 19-count indictment - 16 of which were felonies - including charges like extortion, telecommunications fraud and misdemeanor falsification, according to court documents obtained by WTOL.
The charges were tied to a Facebook post Ford made on September 22, 2023, in which she accused several Norwalk city officials - Mayor David Light, law director Stuart O'Hara, safety and service director Michael White and former police chief David Smith - of corruption.
All four testified during the trial.
The host of the 'ALLEGEDLY: with Ashli Ford' podcast wrote a series of inflammatory statements, including: 'I know that I have you on your knees,' and 'This is your VERY LAST opportunity to end this in a respectable manner.'
She continued: 'I will slowly crumble the reputation [of] every single person who stands in the way of justice,' and added, 'I will escort you to your demise in a manner more akin to Malcolm X than Martin Luther King Jr.'
In the same post, Ford claimed she would expose 'every single low down dirty deed,' referencing misspent fines, obscene photos, 'shut up settlements,' a 'human trafficking drug rung,' and 'suicides that ain't suicides,' among other allegations, according to WTOL.
The host of the 'ALLEGEDLY: with Ashli Ford' podcast wrote a series of inflammatory statements, including: 'I know that I have you on your knees,' and 'This is your VERY LAST opportunity to end this in a respectable manner'
The state argued the post was a clear attempt to intimidate public officials and witnesses connected to an ongoing criminal case against Ford, constituting a violation of Ohio laws on obstruction and intimidation.
At the time of the post, Ford was already facing two criminal falsification charges for allegedly making false accusations against the Norwalk Police Department.
She was later acquitted of those charges, according to WTOL.
Ford now awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for June 16.
If convicted, she faces up to 36 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 for each of the four felony counts, according to Law and Crime.
After the verdict, Ford addressed her audience - more than 18,000 followers across various platforms - on Facebook, expressing gratitude for their continued support.
'Your support means everything to me. I am okay. God built me to withstand storms like this. I continue to walk in faith and without an ounce of fear. The actions throughout my life will always defend me,' she wrote.
After the verdict, Ford addressed her audience - more than 18,000 followers across various platforms - on Facebook, expressing gratitude for their continued support
Ford is known for her hit true crime podcast where she discusses various legal cases and controversies.
She has also publicly described herself as a journalist and child victim advocate.
Ford said the goal of her podcast is to unveil 'injustices' and to 'inspire action.'
'In a world drowning in misinformation and deceit, "Ashli Ford Investigations" cuts through the noise to shed light on untold stories that truly matter. Every week, we bring you riveting, thought-provoking content that unveils society's dark underbelly, confronts powerful institutions and empowers silenced victims.
'Through in-depth investigative journalism and compelling interviews, we tackle political corruption, dark media, corporate scandals, human trafficking and more. Our goal is not only to unveil these injustices but also to inspire action and drive positive change,' the podcast's description reads.
