When he’s not posting urban-decay videos on social media and confronting left-wing activists, Ward is a small-business proprietor. He owns a cafe, the Tenderloin Deli and Connect on Ellis Street, according to a December 2024 health inspector report. (The deli was cited for cockroaches.) “I have comfort food that’s very affordable for anyone’s budget I bring a cool atmosphere in my establishment where everyone is welcome,” reads the “About the business” section of its Yelp page.
He’s also a felon, convicted in a 2006 federal case for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Although some two dozen documents pertaining to the case have been sealed, his criminal record earned him the designation of “career offender,” according to records that remain public. The court determined that Ward fell into “Criminal History Category VI,” the highest category, and had an offense level of 34 (the highest possible is 43), indicating that he had numerous prior convictions. Ward was also arrested in 1998 during a domestic disturbance call, according to court records, and was convicted of possession of a controlled substance.
Court documents from the 2006 case show that Ward took a plea deal and was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison — far less than the 15 to 20 years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines.
Former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who leads a criminal justice center at UC Berkeley’s law school, reviewed Ward’s court records at The Standard’s request.
“I’m not sure what I can conclude from this other than that he received a very substantial discount in his sentence for (presumably) very substantial government assistance of some kind,” Boudin said via email.
Ward pushed back on that interpretation and disputed the facts in the court records.
“I never took a plea deal,” he said. “I just pled guilty.”
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