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Jose Garcia

(2,551 posts)
Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:14 PM Dec 2022

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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Bernardo de La Paz

(48,785 posts)
3. Jury convictions require "beyond a reasonable doubt". High bar requiring very good evidence
Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:27 PM
Dec 2022

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

Firestorm49

(4,002 posts)
9. Rittenhouse had a "jury" trial and still walked even after killing someone. Justice?
Thu Dec 1, 2022, 05:06 PM
Dec 2022

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.

 

Hugh_Lebowski

(33,643 posts)
13. Arguably the 'vendor' did something more 'wrong' don't you think?
Sat Dec 3, 2022, 06:52 PM
Dec 2022

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.

msfiddlestix

(7,265 posts)
2. If Gaetez isn't one of the "additional ones" expected to be prosecuted "in the coming month"
Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:27 PM
Dec 2022

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.

2naSalit

(86,043 posts)
5. Well...
Thu Dec 1, 2022, 02:34 PM
Dec 2022

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

moniss

(3,949 posts)
7. But there are some possibilities
Thu Dec 1, 2022, 03:25 PM
Dec 2022

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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