Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:14 PM

Gaetz friend gets 11 years for sex crime, other counts

Source: Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida tax collector whose arrest led to a federal probe into U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor and other crimes.

Joel Greenberg, former tax collector for Seminole County, had pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, also including identity theft, stalking, wire fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official. Prosecutors said he paid at least one girl to have sex with him and other men.

“Nothing justifies my actions. My conduct is so shameful. I feel remorse for what I’ve done,” Greenberg said in court Thursday.

Greenberg’s attorney had asked U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell for leniency, saying that his client had assisted in investigations of 24 people, including eight for sex crimes. Defense attorney Fritz Scheller said that Greenberg’s cooperation has led to four federal indictments, and that he believed additional ones were expected in the coming month.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-florida-congress-government-and-politics-d657eda08a857f4c0a07d293bb109308

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13 replies	Author	Time	Post
Gaetz friend gets 11 years for sex crime, other counts (Original post)	Jose Garcia	Dec 2022	OP
And Matty	montanacowboy	Dec 2022	#1
Jury convictions require "beyond a reasonable doubt". High bar requiring very good evidence	Bernardo de La Paz	Dec 2022	#3
Rittenhouse had a "jury" trial and still walked even after killing someone. Justice?	Firestorm49	Dec 2022	#9
Arguably the 'vendor' did something more 'wrong' don't you think?	Hugh_Lebowski	Dec 2022	#13
Didn't have to enough money to buy himself out of jail.	Oneironaut	Dec 2022	#8
+1000	Hiawatha Pete	Dec 2022	#11
If Gaetez isn't one of the "additional ones" expected to be prosecuted "in the coming month"	msfiddlestix	Dec 2022	#2
I hope Gaetz gets some punishment	IronLionZion	Dec 2022	#4
Well...	2naSalit	Dec 2022	#5
Matt will walk free as a bird. Two systems of justice is what we have.	BComplex	Dec 2022	#6
I totally hear ya. My only hope is that they dismissed 20+ charges (why?). Cooperation?	Evolve Dammit	Dec 2022	#10
But there are some possibilities	moniss	Dec 2022	#7
I'm so old I remember when it was a sure thing Gaetz would be indicted.	mn9driver	Dec 2022	#12

Response to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:19 PM

montanacowboy (5,689 posts)

1. And Matty

is still out enjoying the good life? W T F

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Response to montanacowboy (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:27 PM

Bernardo de La Paz (45,603 posts)

3. Jury convictions require "beyond a reasonable doubt". High bar requiring very good evidence

Gaetz was able to keep the connection vague enough for the evidence to not reach that bar. So, no prosecution.

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Response to Bernardo de La Paz (Reply #3)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 05:06 PM

Firestorm49 (3,636 posts)

9. Rittenhouse had a "jury" trial and still walked even after killing someone. Justice?

Not enough evidence to convict Gaetz, but his vendor got 11 years. What a joke. Maybe better prosecutors were needed?

Another sick story of selective law enforcement.

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Response to Firestorm49 (Reply #9)

Sat Dec 3, 2022, 06:52 PM

Hugh_Lebowski (31,985 posts)

13. Arguably the 'vendor' did something more 'wrong' don't you think?

This dude got in as much trouble as he did because of a bunch of bribery and theft and other non-sex-related stuff ... on top of sex crimes.

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Response to montanacowboy (Reply #1)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 03:39 PM

Oneironaut (4,745 posts)

8. Didn't have to enough money to buy himself out of jail.

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Response to montanacowboy (Reply #1)

Fri Dec 2, 2022, 11:24 AM

Hiawatha Pete (1,693 posts)

11. +1000

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Response to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:27 PM

msfiddlestix (6,488 posts)

2. If Gaetez isn't one of the "additional ones" expected to be prosecuted "in the coming month"

who among us will be surprised?

we were so hopeful at the time this case became a matter under investigation. . at the time it seemed quite evident Gaetez was involved in the sex trafficking per venmo or paypal payments etc. seems like there were other evidence, but I no longer remember what they were.

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Response to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:34 PM

IronLionZion (42,788 posts)

4. I hope Gaetz gets some punishment

Dude is so creepy

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Response to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:34 PM

2naSalit (73,428 posts)

5. Well...

I guess they've squeezed and he's milked this as long as possible, Matt should be starting to sweat right about now.

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Response to 2naSalit (Reply #5)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 03:21 PM

BComplex (7,248 posts)

6. Matt will walk free as a bird. Two systems of justice is what we have.

I'm friggin' sick of it.

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Response to BComplex (Reply #6)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 07:43 PM

Evolve Dammit (14,707 posts)

10. I totally hear ya. My only hope is that they dismissed 20+ charges (why?). Cooperation?

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Response to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Thu Dec 1, 2022, 03:25 PM

moniss (1,660 posts)

7. But there are some possibilities

for Greenberg to undertake once the indictments of others are done. He could make a deal for a tell-all book. Stuff that couldn't make it to court might still be of interest to voters and others.

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Response to Jose Garcia (Original post)

Fri Dec 2, 2022, 12:49 PM

mn9driver (4,227 posts)

12. I'm so old I remember when it was a sure thing Gaetz would be indicted.

Not holding my breath anymore.

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