The indicted friend of Rep. Matt Gaetz who is at the center of a federal investigation involving the congressman is in talks to potentially strike a plea deal, putting increased pressure on the Florida Republican accused of having sex with an underage girl and paying for her to travel with him across state lines.
At a court hearing on Thursday, federal prosecutor Roger Handberg and defense attorney Fritz Scheller said they expect a plea change in the case of Joel Greenberg, a former Orlando-area tax collector who was charged with sex trafficking last year. Handberg said that negotiations are ongoing, while Scheller requested a May 15 deadline for both sides to either reach a deal or proceed with a trial.
Greenberg was the tax collector for Seminole County when the Justice Department indicted him in August on a slew of charges that include stalking, identity theft, wire fraud, illegally obtaining personal information and sex trafficking of a minor. The friend of Gaetz previously pleaded not guilty to all charges, though federal prosecutors said in the brief hearing on Thursday that they expect a plea change in his case.
If Greenberg does decide to accept a plea agreement, it could mean he would cooperate with investigators to catch higher-profile targets in order to reduce his own sentence. Handberg’s and Scheller’s willingness for Greenberg to change his plea strongly suggests that he is prepared to give an insider account of his activities with others, and though Gaetz’s name was not mentioned, their association is well known.
