Trying to get together

McNeil can't remember when they first developed the idea of the Black Film Festival down in Miami. He thinks it might be the middle of April or the beginning of May.

Mr. Willis was asked by the FBI to bring it up with Ford. At this time, Mr. Willis had no idea what was going on or the role John Ford was going to play in the undercover operation. He was instructed to contact him and deliver a birthday gift on behalf of McNeil and the E-Cycle company on May 3, 2004.

LC McNeil gives Ford a call on May 6th (Exhibit 105). The excuse is to see if Ford got the gift he sent for his birthday. McNeil tries to set up a meeting but Ford is busy. Every time McNeil tries to set up a time, Ford says he's in Nashville or some other place. He tries to see if he's going to the Memphis in May BBQ. Ford thinks he might be in Nashville again.

"What's the issue?" asks Ford, after a while.

McNeil talks about some sort of legislation project going down in Washington, DC.

"What kind of business you in?" asks Ford.

Even though they had met, McNeil says that Ford didn't know who he was talking to at that time. They don't confirm an official meeting date at this time. McNeil tells the court that he didn't see Ford at the BBQ. But he does run into him someplace else...

It's now May 13, 2004, and McNeil is in the lobby of the Madison hotel. While he was recording everything that's going on, McNeil says running into Ford in the hotel lobby was an accident.

"Are you going to be here this weekend?" asks McNeil.

"Yeah, I just got back in town," says Ford

"Who do you represent?" asks Ford. Again as if Ford didn't know who he was with and he asks for another business card.

"Let's get together. We got something going on down in Florida that you might be interested in," says McNeil.

McNeil tells us that the Florida venture was in reference to the Black Film Festival.

McNeil calls Ford again the next day. Ford is again busy.

"Who is this?"

"LC McNeil"

McNeil tries some talk, but Ford cuts him off.

"Don't talk to me, just tell me what it is."

McNeil wants to know if Ford is going to the BBQ, but Ford's not going because it's raining. They schedule a tenative meeting, but it doesn't happen.