Gaetz associate asks for another sentencing delay amid cooperation with feds

Joel Greenberg, a former Florida county tax collector and an associate of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), is requesting another sentencing delay as he continues to cooperate with authorities on multiple cases.

Greenberg’s attorney Fritz Scheller filed a motion on Tuesday requesting that his client’s sentencing hearing be delayed to March 2022 — which had already been delayed once before — because he will still be cooperating with authorities by the time his sentencing hearing date arrives.

Greenberg’s scheduling hearing is currently scheduled for Nov. 18. It was originally set for Aug. 19, but a judge agreed to a requested delay in July.

Scheller in the motion wrote that Greenberg cannot be sentenced before he is done cooperating with authorities, since his sentence may fluctuate based on his assistance.

Authorities originally started looking into Greenberg for alleged embezzlement of public funds, but the probe has since expanded to include corruption related to a Florida city’s medical marijuana policy, in addition to potential sex trafficking crimes committed by people connected to him, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

He faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 12 years.

“Pursuant to his plea agreement with the Government, Mr. Greenberg has been cooperating with the Government and has participated in a series of proffers. Said cooperation, which could impact his ultimate sentence, cannot be completed prior to the time of his sentencing,” the motion reads.

“The parties expect that Mr. Greenberg will participate in additional proffers, and a continuance would provide Mr. Greenberg with additional time to do so prior to his sentencing,” it adds.

The request has a strong chance of being granted, since Scheller wrote in the motion that after consultation with the government he was advised that it does not oppose allowing a continuance until March 2022.

Greenberg has been cooperating with federal authorities after he pleaded guilty and entered into a deal with the Justice Department in May. A judge accepted the agreement in June.

He admitted to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking a minor, stalking and bribery.

Greenberg’s request for a delay because of his cooperation may raise concerns for Gaetz, since authorities are also looking into whether the congressman paid to have sex with a 17-year-old girl who Greenberg said he trafficked, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Gaetz, however, has denied any wrongdoing, and was not named in the plea agreement.