The Nassau County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 45‑year‑old David Gene Ford on August 14, ending a multi‑state fraud investigation that began in December 2025. Ford faces charges of grand theft, organized fraud, and writing false checks, and is being held on a bond exceeding $90,000.

How the scheme unfolded

The case started when a local seller on Facebook Marketplace reported that Ford had agreed to purchase four remote‑controlled cars valued at $2,500 each. After the seller delivered the merchandise, the check Ford provided was declined, and the phone number he gave was disconnected.

Detectives traced the bounced check to a similar open case in Knoxville, Tennessee, where a suspect used the alias “Thor Chevy Haraldsson.” Further investigation revealed that Ford was already wanted by law‑enforcement agencies in Tennessee, Colorado, and Washington for comparable scams.

Pattern of deception

Authorities say Ford consistently employed the same method across jurisdictions: adopting aliases, writing bad checks for expensive items, and cutting off contact once the goods were in his possession. Public warning posts about Ford’s activities have circulated on regional Facebook community boards.

Legal proceedings

Ford was booked into the Nassau County Jail & Detention Center on August 14 and remains detained pending a bond hearing. The bond has been set at more than $90,000.

The investigation underscores the importance of vigilance when conducting transactions on online marketplaces and highlights the collaborative efforts of law‑enforcement agencies across state lines.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.