In April 2007, Ford was convicted of federal bribery as part of the Operation Tennessee Waltz scandal.

Ford attended John A. Gupton College in Nashville, receiving an associate's degree in mortuary science, qualifying him to apply for a license as a funeral director.

In the state senate, Ford was chairman of the General Welfare, Health, and Human Resources Committee.

His arrest came the day after his nephew Harold Ford, Jr., announced his candidacy for the United States Senate.

He was also facing corruption charges in Nashville, Tennessee for accepting bribes totaling more than $800,000 from medical contractors doing business with the state.

On April 14, 2011, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a portion of the convictions against Ford on jurisdictional grounds.