Former Matt Gaetz Associate Joel Greenberg Sentenced To 11 Years For Child Sex Trafficking

Topline

Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax collector and associate of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), was sentenced to 11 years in prison Thursday for sex trafficking of a minor and five other federal charges, multiple outlets reported, in a case that extended to a reportedly stalled probe of the congressman’s alleged interactions with a teenage girl—an allegation Gaetz denied.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Greenberg pleaded guilty in May last year to six federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor, stalking, identity theft, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official, after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to cooperate in other investigations.

Greenberg’s crimes carried a sentence of up to 27 years, but prosecutors agreed in a pre-sentencing hearing on Wednesday to a reduced sentence since he aided them in other sex-trafficking investigations.

Greenberg was initially charged in 2020 with 33 federal counts related to his activities while serving as a Seminole County tax collector, including paying minors he met on a site for “sugar daddies” for sex and introducing the underage girls to other men.

The investigation into Gaetz became public knowledge last year, and reports emerged that Greenberg was cooperating, but the probe has stalled and charges are unlikely, multiple outlets have reported (Gaetz has denied the allegations).

Key Background

Greenberg’s case led the Department of Justice in 2020 to begin investigating whether Gaetz paid women for sex, at least one of whom was under the age of 18. Greenberg and Gaetz were once close friends who allegedly attended drug-fueled parties together where women said they received money for sex, CNN reported. Greenberg reportedly provided prosecutors with information that Gaetz exchanged gifts and cash with women for sex, allegations Gaetz has denied. Prosecutors recently recommended no charges against Gaetz, however, citing witness credibility issues, The Washington Post reported. Dozens of others are under investigation as a result of the charges against Greenberg, who was initially indicted in 2021 for paying a woman under the age of 18 for sex at least seven times, and for embezzling public money he had access to during his approximately three years as Seminole County tax collector to buy cryptocurrency and sports memorabilia, among other activities. The DOJ also said he falsely accused a political opponent of having sex with a student at the Florida school where they worked and submitted fraudulent loan applications for his personal businesses.

Crucial Quote

At his sentencing on Thursday before U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell, Greenberg apologized to Seminole County taxpayers and his ex-wife, Spectrum News in Central Florida reported. “I know that I can never make up for what I have done,” Greenberg reportedly said.

Tangent

Presnell criticized the DOJ on Wednesday for the pace of its investigation into others connected to Greenberg’s case. “The government has had a lot of time to conclude those investigations,” Presnell said, according to CNN.

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Key Facts

Key Background

Crucial Quote

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