Gaetz ‘wingman’ set to plead guilty to trafficking a minor and agrees to cooperate with feds politico.com

In this Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, file photo, Joel Greenberg talks to the Orlando Sentinel during an interview at his office in Lake Mary, Fla. | Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP/Politico

Joel Greenberg, a key figure in the federal investigation of Rep. Matt Gaetz will reportedly plead guilty to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a child, in a plea deal that could spell trouble for the Republican congressman.

As part of his deal with federal prosecutors, the former Florida county tax collector has also agreed to “cooperate fully with the United States in the investigation and prosecution of other persons, and to testify” in future proceedings, according to court documents filed Friday in Orlando federal court.

Along with the sex trafficking charge, Greenberg agreed to plead guilty to federal wire fraud, identify theft, bribery and stalking-related charges. Prosecutors agreed to drop more than two dozen other criminal charges in exchange for his plea. He faces a minimum of 12 years in federal prison, and must forfeit $654,000 he obtained as part of the alleged wire fraud and bribery schemes.

Gaetz has denied any and all wrongdoing, according to Vanity. But Greenberg, who previously pleaded not guilty to 33 charges, is now negotiating a plea deal that would see him cooperating with the feds, an outcome Greenberg’s lawyer has suggested should be very worrisome to the Florida congressman.

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