Alford pleads guilty to wire fraud

Posted on November 25, 2021

Twice-convicted felon Stephen M. Alford – who served federal prison time for his attempt to execute a $500 million land swap that would have converted a portion of 548,000 acres of Taylor County timberland into an Air Force bombing range – is now facing more time behind bars after pleading guilty to one count of wire fraud for his role in attempting to illegally obtain $25 million in exchange for securing a presidential pardon.

After originally entering a “not guilty” plea on Oct. 1, Alford instead pleaded guilty to one of three counts of wire fraud he was originally charged with, at a Monday hearing in Pensacola, during which a charge of tampering with evidence was thrown out. That charge resulted from Alford destroying a cellphone before federal agents could confiscate it.

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