The former U.S. Senator John N. Ford, who was already charged of bribery, has been accused of obtaining more than $800,000 in consulting fees from contractors working for a state Medicare program.

Ford, who served on three committees with authority over TennCare, is accused of using his elected position to promote the interests of two contractors with TennCare.

"Sen. Ford had a duty to provide honest services to the people of Tennessee," U.S. Atty. Craig Morford said at a news conference. "The facts alleged in this indictment reveal an appalling willingness to violate that duty by using his public position for personal gain."

Ford, a Memphis Democrat, resigned from the Legislature in 2005 after he was indicted on charges of taking $55,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents posing as a businessmen. He has pleaded not guilty in that case and his trial is set for February.

The new indictment, alleging two counts of wire fraud and four counts of concealing material facts, could lead to conviction of maximum of 60 years in prison and fines of $1.5 million.