JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Attorney General’s Office has launched a formal investigation into the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), marking a significant escalation in the scrutiny surrounding the agency’s operations.
Action News Jax obtained an internal email sent to JTA board members by interim CEO Cleveland Ferguson, confirming that the agency has been served with a subpoena. The legal directive demands the production of records spanning from October 2023 to October 2025. Specifically, investigators are seeking documentation related to former CEO Nat Ford, his wife, and an undisclosed organizational development firm.
The scope of the subpoena is broad, extending beyond specific individuals to include agency-wide financial practices. Authorities have requested records pertaining to tuition reimbursement programs, scholarships, and all related internal and external communications through the present year.
In the email to the board, Ferguson stated that the agency is actively preserving records to comply with the legal request. He noted that he has tasked the JTA’s internal auditor with overseeing the document collection process, explicitly citing the need for independent oversight because some of the requested materials involve his own professional communications.
This development follows three years of investigative reporting by Action News Jax, which has repeatedly highlighted questions regarding JTA’s contracts, spending habits, and internal tuition-related programs. The inquiry arrives at a tumultuous time for the transportation authority, which is currently grappling with a $39 million budget deficit. Just two weeks ago, the agency announced plans for nearly 200 staff layoffs and significant service cuts as part of an emergency effort to close that funding gap.
In response to the investigation, the JTA issued a brief statement confirming their receipt of the subpoena.
“The Jacksonville Transportation Authority has received a subpoena from the State Attorney General’s Office and is prepared to fully cooperate,” the agency said. “The JTA remains committed to transparency and accountability and will provide information as requested throughout this process.”
The City of Jacksonville’s Office of General Counsel confirmed they have been briefed on the situation but clarified that they are not a target of the current subpoena.
“The Office of General Counsel has not received a subpoena, but we have just learned that JTA did receive one,” the office said in a statement. “We refer you to them for any questions.”
As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on whether the requested financial records and communications will reveal further irregularities in how public funds were managed under the previous leadership and how current programs are being administered.
Action News Jax will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available. Residents are encouraged to download the free Action News Jax app for real-time alerts.
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