A veterinarian who travels for work is facing accusations of sexually assaulting a teenage girl and now has federal charges for allegedly threatening the girl’s mother after she uncovered their suspected relationship.

Dr. Gregory Ford, 52, was taken into custody on Wednesday in Florida. Authorities from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office claim he had an improper sexual relationship with a teenager back in May. The situation came to light thanks to the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama, where the girl’s mother resides.

Ford is not only dealing with state charges in Florida but also faces federal allegations for sending threatening communications, having reportedly told the girl’s mother he had “already paid a dear friend from the CIA” to eliminate her.

Details from a federal affidavit filed in Alabama’s Northern District and accessed by Law&Crime reveal Ford is a traveling veterinarian who focuses on horses. Although he is mainly based in Houston, Texas, Ford frequently visits multiple southern states for “shows, races, equine events, and home visits.”

The affidavit stated that Ford met the alleged victim when she was 15 years old and she worked for his veterinary practice.

On August 21, after the girl’s mother went through her daughter’s phone, she discovered “sexually explicit” messages between her daughter and Ford, which allegedly included conversation about “plans for sexual intercourse,” according to the affidavit. She reported these text messages to the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, and the next day, deputies, alongside an FBI agent, interviewed the girl.

The girl confessed to having had sexual relations with Ford “three or four times” and exchanging nude images with him. As per the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, which received notification about the accusations on September 3, the girl indicated that the alleged relationship spanned approximately two years and involved travel with Ford to multiple states.

On Sept. 19, detectives with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office received information from the FBI agent that the girl allegedly admitted to a sexual encounter with Ford at his residence in Marion County in May.

Days later, on Sept. 23, the girl’s mother received a lengthy text message from Ford that allegedly stated he had “already paid a dear friend from the CIA to long rifle a bullet in your chest.”

Ford allegedly went on to blame the girl’s mother for making “a mess of things” between him and the teenager, claiming she “absolutely humiliated, broken, and shamed the most perfect of God’s creations,” referring to the girl. While allegedly claiming he and the girl were “in Love” and were going to “run off together” when she turned 18, Ford proclaimed, “LISTEN TO YOUR DAUGHTER AND OUR LOVE STORY! SHE IS MY SOULMATE.”

The same day, Ford allegedly left two voicemails on the girl’s phone, apparently blaming her for the end of their relationship but saying, “She’ll understand one day.”

Ford was arrested in Marion County on charges of sexual battery of a victim between the ages of 16 and 17. He remains in the county jail where he is being held without bond. His next court date was not available. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office stated that due to the nature of these crimes and the traveling nature of his profession, MCSO Major Crimes detectives and the FBI believe Ford may have additional victims across the United States. Anyone with information about other potential victims is asked to contact Detective Josue Rivera at (352) 369-6749.

Ford is also charged with threatening communications in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.