A former associate of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) who pleaded guilty to a series of federal criminal charges including child sex trafficking was sentenced to 11 years in prison on Thursday in federal court in Orlando.
The defendant, former county official Joel Greenberg, also admitted to offenses including wire fraud and stalking, the latter of which was connected to Greenberg targeting a political opponent who he maligned with false accusations connected to a primary challenge. Gaetz himself once described the man, who has been jailed since last year, as his “wingman.” Reports have outlined an investigation into Gaetz for potentially victimizing the same then-minor whose involvement with Greenberg predicated the sex trafficking charge, although he’s predictably denied the allegations. Prior to his sentencing, Greenberg provided investigators with information relevant to the sex trafficking probe into Gaetz (and others), communicating about the matter as recently as the last few months, according to Greenberg lawyer Fritz Scheller. (Greenberg has also cooperated with investigations into financial fraud, among other areas of concern.)
Prosecutors have reportedly recommended against charging Gaetz in the sex trafficking investigation, although he was also reportedly under scrutiny for potentially committing obstruction of justice and campaign finance violations. (The recommendation was connected to concerns about the perceived credibility of witnesses according to reports.) Higher-ups at the department have the ultimate responsibility of deciding on whether or not to bring charges against Gaetz, and new reporting from CNN indicates it’s unclear a decision was finalized. CNN reported on Wednesday that prosecutors had been telling lawyers for those potentially subject to charges in connection with the sex trafficking investigation they had no status information to share. “In recent weeks, Justice Department officials have told lawyers for people who could face legal exposure in the sex-trafficking probe that there is no update on the status of the case,” according to CNN’s reporting.
Gaetz and Greenberg have a long history of connections — including through Venmo where Gaetz sent Greenberg hundreds of dollars marked with a message about an individual tied to Greenberg when still a minor. Greenberg sent hundreds of dollars in Venmo payments to multiple young women the following morning, attaching messages claiming it was for “school” — which obviously doesn’t sound credible. Greenberg’s lawyer has previously specified his client provided information about over half a dozen other men related to the sex trafficking investigation.
