A federal judge agreed to postpone the sentencing of Joel Greenberg, the former Florida tax collector who pled guilty to sex trafficking a minor and five other crimes, as he continues to cooperate with prosecutors on a “number of different investigations.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz, a former friend of Greenberg, reportedly once called the disgraced official his ‘wingman.’ The Washington Post reports:
Gaetz, a Republican who represents much of the Florida Panhandle, was not mentioned in Greenberg’s plea agreement. But Greenberg’s cooperation could play a role in an ongoing investigation into Gaetz, who was accused of paying a 17-year-old girl for sex.
POLITICO explains:
The investigation into Gaetz has stretched on since November and became public this spring amid predictions of an imminent indictment for the congressman that never came to pass. The March sentencing date for Greenberg — the former Seminole County tax collector — sets a new time horizon for when Gaetz might be charged, if at all.
Gaetz has denied any wrongdoing.
CNN adds:
Greenberg faced dozens of criminal charges before his guilty plea [in May], and the ongoing investigations related to him have also roped in a circle of local politicians and businessmen who authorities are scrutinizing for possible fraud.
In court Monday, [Roger Handberg, an assistant US attorney] called Greenberg a “prolific criminal.”
“Mr. Greenberg was not alone,” Handberg said.
More from POLITICO:
In court on Monday, Greenberg lawyer Fritz Scheller said Greenberg needed more time to help prosecutors and is “on a path of rehabilitation and, to a lesser extent, redemption.” He also said Greenberg’s information is “a way to mitigate the severity of Mr. Greenberg’s case… make amends.”
The judge replied by noting that Greenberg was getting something out of his testimony: “Well, it’s a way to mitigate his sentence.”
Greenberg’s sentencing has been pushed until March. He faces decades in prison.
