Scholl is still cross-examining McNeil. Through the audio tapes he's choosing to show us, we learn that after numerous attempts to meet, the FBI decides to go another route - The Black Film Festival. This is happening down in Miami.
"C'mon down and take break," says McNeil in the May 20,2004 phone conversation. "Got a conference down there..."
The conference is actually the Film Festival and McNeil invites him down to check it out. This has nothing to do with E-Cycle, but to do with one of McNeil's make-believe movie ventures.
The trip is happening in mid-July.
Unlike the business meetings, Ford does show up for this event and is given the red carpet treatment. McNeil and Tim Willis pick him up in a limo at the airport, have him stay in the Ocean Hotel (located in South Beach on Ocean Drive), and they a good time on the yacht. McNeil doesn't introduce the yacht as Joe Carson's, but as a "friend's yacht". They also cruise around in a Hummer and attend a fancy party.
Based on the conversations on July 15, 2004, the party seems to be the main event of the trip. There's going to be good drinks and good women. McNeil and Willis play it up by making a few calls while Ford is in the car with them.
"Hey Patty, how you doing? The weather is beautiful down here, but not as beautiful as you," says Tim Willis during the recording. Willis proceeds to invite Patty to the party.
"You going to be able to hang, Senator?"
"Hell yeah."
Ford has a great time and after weeks of trying to get him to meet with them the connection is made. Ford's not going to forget McNeil after this - even though there was no mention of E-Cycle.
Monday, April 16, 2007
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.
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.
It takes two to brag
We're still on the same night (April 20, 2004) in the same restaurant. Based on what we've heard, McNeil has spent most of the night bragging about his connections in the entertainment business and John has been listening. But that's all about to change as it's now time for Ford to strut his stuff.
In Exhibit 103, Ford starts telling McNeil what he does. He sells insurance, he's a senator, he's a business man. He's even got family contacts who have businesses. He talks about his brother Harold and all the contracts he's got going on. But most of all, Ford is a consultant.
"In fact, I have some contracts that have to do with the county and city, and nothing to do with the state," say Ford.
Scholl asks McNeil if he filled out a report for that evening. McNeil admits that even though he spent hours and hours with Ford, he didn't fill out a report.
On April 29 (Exhibit 104) McNeil calls Ford at 3:30 pm. Ford tells him he's busy, but they still have a short conversation. They decided to meet up during Memphis in May. McNeil is going to pick him up some tickets for a concert.
In Exhibit 103, Ford starts telling McNeil what he does. He sells insurance, he's a senator, he's a business man. He's even got family contacts who have businesses. He talks about his brother Harold and all the contracts he's got going on. But most of all, Ford is a consultant.
"In fact, I have some contracts that have to do with the county and city, and nothing to do with the state," say Ford.
Scholl asks McNeil if he filled out a report for that evening. McNeil admits that even though he spent hours and hours with Ford, he didn't fill out a report.
On April 29 (Exhibit 104) McNeil calls Ford at 3:30 pm. Ford tells him he's busy, but they still have a short conversation. They decided to meet up during Memphis in May. McNeil is going to pick him up some tickets for a concert.
The fine art of seduction
Scholl continues his cross-examination with McNeil by showing how the relationship evolved and how Ford got involved in the sting - even though he already said he was too busy.
Based on the taped conversations Scholl chooses to play, when it comes to seducing Ford, the FBI doesn't do it through E-Cycle and their business plan, but through entertainment.
We're now listening to another segment of the same April 20, 2004 conversation (Exhibit 99) between McNeil and Ford in a restaurant.
McNeil continues to drop names such as James Brown and Lionel Richie, and how he's dedicated to get the job done when it comes to film and music. He tells Ford he'll stay up to four in the morning and do whatever it takes.
"I like what I do," says McNeil during the recording.
When questioned about this, McNeil says it was "for the role he was playing" and not true. He doesn't work in the music industry and never worked on any of the movies that he mentions.
So far, McNeil has not brought up E-Cycle at all.
"Do you know what I'm talking about when I say 'braggin'? asks Scholl.
"Yes I do," says McNeil.
McNeil admits that he hyped himself up in some of the conversations with Ford because that was part of the 'role'. While he does have a Porshe and has been in private jets, he's never worked with the celebrities he talks about with Ford.
Based on the taped conversations Scholl chooses to play, when it comes to seducing Ford, the FBI doesn't do it through E-Cycle and their business plan, but through entertainment.
We're now listening to another segment of the same April 20, 2004 conversation (Exhibit 99) between McNeil and Ford in a restaurant.
McNeil continues to drop names such as James Brown and Lionel Richie, and how he's dedicated to get the job done when it comes to film and music. He tells Ford he'll stay up to four in the morning and do whatever it takes.
"I like what I do," says McNeil during the recording.
When questioned about this, McNeil says it was "for the role he was playing" and not true. He doesn't work in the music industry and never worked on any of the movies that he mentions.
So far, McNeil has not brought up E-Cycle at all.
"Do you know what I'm talking about when I say 'braggin'? asks Scholl.
"Yes I do," says McNeil.
McNeil admits that he hyped himself up in some of the conversations with Ford because that was part of the 'role'. While he does have a Porshe and has been in private jets, he's never worked with the celebrities he talks about with Ford.
To catch a Senator
With this trial it's all about listening - listening to audio tapes and phone conversations. And if you can weed out all the white noise and background conversations of other diners, you'll learn that it's not always what's being said on the tapes that's important.
Right now we're listening to a conversation that took place on April 19, 2004. At this point, John Ford is still a Senator and has not yet become involved in the sting. Ford is doing the listening and McNeil is giving the E-Cycle sales pitch.
When McNeil is done, Ford tells him while it sounds like a good idea, he's not quite sold.
"I just don't have the time to do it," says Ford.
Ford continues to tell McNeil that he has too many businesses right now, the E-Cycle project would take up five months of his time and he just doesn't have the time to do it. He then goes on to say the has other obligations. He's got children - young ones and others in college.
Ford doesn't commit to the project at this time, but according to Scholl, the FBI wasn't ready to give up on him. The next day McNeil paid a visit to Ford's office.
"You sure look busy," says McNeil on the tape. "Stacks of paper..."
Ford is too busy to talk to McNeil at this time, but agrees to meet him that night for dinner. Scholl says the conversation revolved around the movie and entertainment business that night and had little to do with E-Cycle. McNeil says he can't remember ---so it's a good thing, they got it on tape.
On the recording, McNeil tells Ford about the work he has on the go in music business. He tells him that he has some deals going through with American Idol and stacks of CDs on his desk.
Scholl asks McNeil if this was actually true and these deals really did exist. McNeil anwsers that "No" this wasn't true.
"You can't trust anyone in business," says Ford later that night.
Seems he was right.
Right now we're listening to a conversation that took place on April 19, 2004. At this point, John Ford is still a Senator and has not yet become involved in the sting. Ford is doing the listening and McNeil is giving the E-Cycle sales pitch.
When McNeil is done, Ford tells him while it sounds like a good idea, he's not quite sold.
"I just don't have the time to do it," says Ford.
Ford continues to tell McNeil that he has too many businesses right now, the E-Cycle project would take up five months of his time and he just doesn't have the time to do it. He then goes on to say the has other obligations. He's got children - young ones and others in college.
Ford doesn't commit to the project at this time, but according to Scholl, the FBI wasn't ready to give up on him. The next day McNeil paid a visit to Ford's office.
"You sure look busy," says McNeil on the tape. "Stacks of paper..."
Ford is too busy to talk to McNeil at this time, but agrees to meet him that night for dinner. Scholl says the conversation revolved around the movie and entertainment business that night and had little to do with E-Cycle. McNeil says he can't remember ---so it's a good thing, they got it on tape.
On the recording, McNeil tells Ford about the work he has on the go in music business. He tells him that he has some deals going through with American Idol and stacks of CDs on his desk.
Scholl asks McNeil if this was actually true and these deals really did exist. McNeil anwsers that "No" this wasn't true.
"You can't trust anyone in business," says Ford later that night.
Seems he was right.
Girls, girls, girls...
Ford and McNeil spent a lot of time entertaining in restaurants and bars, but these weren't always spent one-on-one. There were a number of girls who frequently hung out with the men. Now before you start thinking of 007 Bond girls, stop...none of these women are undercover FBI agents. They just happened to meet the men during the undercover operation.
Mena and Natasha are two girls that the men met down in Miami at the Black Film Festival. They often join the guys for dinner. You never hear these women on tape. It seems that whenever the girls are with them, the conversations aren't recorded.
There is also one other person: Alana.
Alana also hangs out with McNeil. She is not only the person that Ford suspects is an informant; he also has problems with her running up his credit cards with thousands of dollars.
Mena and Natasha are two girls that the men met down in Miami at the Black Film Festival. They often join the guys for dinner. You never hear these women on tape. It seems that whenever the girls are with them, the conversations aren't recorded.
There is also one other person: Alana.
Alana also hangs out with McNeil. She is not only the person that Ford suspects is an informant; he also has problems with her running up his credit cards with thousands of dollars.
McNeil and the Ticket King
McNeil and Ford spend a lot of time talking about tickets to concerts and games. In a recorded conversation, we hear McNeil call up Ford and ask if could get tickets to an event.
Scholl asks if McNeil often asked Ford for free tickets. McNeil sidesteps the answer and responds with:
"I did not ask him, but when he made the offer that he could obtain tickets, I took him up on it," says McNeil. "...he got the tickets all by himself."
McNeil says going to concerts was an opportunity to spend time to him.
According to McNeil, the two went to Tigers games and an Usher concert.
"I did go to Usher concert," says McNeil. "There were several young ladies, Mr. Ford and one of his family members, I believe."
After the alleged threats at the Peabody, the two of them attended a Miami heat game together. The conversation during the game was not recorded. McNeil says he did not bring a date, but a girl met him later on that evening.
Scholl asks if McNeil often asked Ford for free tickets. McNeil sidesteps the answer and responds with:
"I did not ask him, but when he made the offer that he could obtain tickets, I took him up on it," says McNeil. "...he got the tickets all by himself."
McNeil says going to concerts was an opportunity to spend time to him.
According to McNeil, the two went to Tigers games and an Usher concert.
"I did go to Usher concert," says McNeil. "There were several young ladies, Mr. Ford and one of his family members, I believe."
After the alleged threats at the Peabody, the two of them attended a Miami heat game together. The conversation during the game was not recorded. McNeil says he did not bring a date, but a girl met him later on that evening.
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