Joel Greenberg (politician): Difference between revisions

{{shortShort description|American politician and(born sex trafficker1984)}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Abby Greenberg|2016|2022|end=div.}}

| conviction_status = Incarcerated, awaiting sentencing<ref name=Balsamo/>

Greenberg was formerly a friend, associate, and ally of [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] congressman [[Matt Gaetz]];<ref name=Weiner>{{cite web |last=Weiner |first=Jeff |date=April 13, 2021 |title=Joel Greenberg cooperating with feds since last year in Matt Gaetz sex trafficking probe: report |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/politics/joel-greenberg/os-ne-joel-greenberg-cooperating-matt-gaetz-20210413-7chqltr2ujcahax4ewczg5eanm-story.html |work=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=May 3, 2021}}</ref> after being arrested in 2020, Greenberg began to [[Turn state's evidence|cooperate with federal investigators]] probing Gaetz and negotiated a plea agreement.<ref name=Weiner/><ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Lambe |first=Jerry |date=June 3, 2021 |title=Judge Approves Plea Deal, Sets Sentencing Date for Matt Gaetz Associate in Child Sex Trafficking Case |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/judge-approves-plea-deal-sets-sentencing-date-for-matt-gaetz-associate-in-child-sex-trafficking-case/ |url-status=live |website=Law & Crime |access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref>

Greenberg was formerly a friend, associate, and ally of Gaetz; after being arrested in 2020, Greenberg began to [[Turn state's evidence|cooperate with federal investigators]] probing Gaetz,<ref name=Weiner/> who was also implicated in the sex trafficking scandal, although he has not been charged with a crime.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sollenberger |first1=Roger |last2=Pagliery |first2=Jose |date=April 8, 2021 |title=Gaetz Paid Accused Sex Trafficker, Who Then Venmo'd Teen |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/gaetz-paid-accused-sex-trafficker-who-then-venmod-teen |work=The Daily Beast |language=en-US |access-date=April 17, 2021}}</ref> In April 2021, Greenberg's attorney announced that his client planned to plead guilty as part of a [[plea agreement]] with the government to avoid a possible life sentence.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Matt Gaetz Associate Joel Greenberg Pleads Guilty to Six Federal Charges, Including Child Sex Trafficking |url=https://dailynewsbrief.com/2021/05/18/matt-gaetz-associate-joel-greenberg-pleads-guilty-to-six-federal-charges-including-child-sex-trafficking/ |work=Daily Newsbrief |date=May 18, 2021 |access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref> On May 17, 2021, Greenberg pleaded guilty to six federal charges: sex trafficking of a child, production of a false identification document, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, stalking, and conspiracy. As part of a plea deal, he agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Department of Justice in an ongoing investigation, and will serve a 12-year sentence, the minimum sentence allowed by law. In exchange for his cooperation, prosecutors agreed to drop the remaining charges from the original indictment. The plea agreement documents state that Greenberg paid a minor to have sex with him and other men. He engaged in sex acts with a minor at least seven times while she was underage. In court papers for his plea deal, Greenberg did not implicate others by name but admitted that he "introduced the minor to other adult men, who engaged in commercial sex acts".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael S. |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Former Gaetz Confidant Agrees to Plead Guilty and Cooperate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/14/us/politics/joel-greenberg-matt-gaetz.html |website=The New York Times |language=en-US |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=David |last2=Pengelly |first2=Martin |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Matt Gaetz scandal deepens as associate admits paying 17-year-old for sex |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/14/matt-gaetz-scandal-joel-greenberg-sex-trafficking |website=The Guardian |language=en-GB |access-date=May 15, 2021}}</ref> As part of the plea agreement, Greenberg must register as a [[Sex offender|sex offender]].<ref name="Chavez"/>

Federal judge [[Gregory A. Presnell|Gregory Presnell]] accepted Greenberg's plea agreement on June 3, 2021, and scheduled a sentencing hearing for August 19.<ref name="auto"/> On July 6, Greenberg requested, and prosecutors agreed to, a three-month delay in his sentencing so he could further cooperate with the government; presiding federal judge Gregory Presnell agreed to reschedule the sentencing date to November 18.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarnoff |first=Marisa |date=July 6, 2021 |title=Prosecutors Agree to Delay Sentencing for Matt Gaetz Wingman Joel Greenberg: He's Been Busy 'Cooperating with the Government' |url=https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/prosecutors-agree-to-delay-sentencing-for-matt-gaetz-wingman-joel-greenberg-hes-been-busy-cooperating-with-the-government/ |url-status=live |website=Law & Crime |access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Curt |date=July 7, 2021 |title=Judge grants sentence delay for cooperating Gaetz associate |url=https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-0474e7ff3e01038f6bc98f0de9f4e673 |url-status=live |website=Associated Press |access-date=October 5, 2021}}</ref> By early October, a lawyer for Greenberg had asked for another delay, this time to March 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Paula |date=October 5, 2021 |title=Gaetz associate asks to delay sentencing, continues to cooperate with federal investigation |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/05/politics/gaetz-greenberg-sentencing-delay/index.html |url-status=live |website=CNN |access-date=October 6, 2021}}</ref> On October 18, prosecutors also asked Presnell for the extension, stating that Greenberg was a "prolific criminal" who had made allegations that "take us to some places we did not anticipate." Presnell approved the extension.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shortell |first=David |date=October 18, 2021 |title=Gaetz ally Joel Greenberg is giving investigators new information, prosecutors say |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/18/politics/joel-greenberg-gaetz/index.html |url-status=live |website=CNN |access-date=October 18, 2021}}</ref> On February 14, 2022, Presnell granted a third delay, this time to May 2022, saying it appeared to be "in the interest of justice".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kihara |first=David |date=February 14, 2022 |title=Gaetz 'wingman' granted another sentencing delay |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/14/gaetz-wingman-granted-another-sentencing-delay-00008706 |website=Politico |language=en |access-date=February 16, 2022}}</ref> A fourth delay was granted in May, with sentencing likely in August.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dixon |first1=Matt |date=May 16, 2022 |title=Sentencing for Gaetz 'wingman' delayed until August |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/16/greenberg-set-to-be-sentenced-in-august-00032764 |work=Politico |access-date=June 4, 2022}}</ref> Subsequently, a December sentencing date was set.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Matt |date=July 8, 2022 |title=Gaetz 'wingman' gets new sentencing date |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/07/08/gaetz-associate-to-be-sentenced-dec-1-00044716 |website=Politico |language=en-US |access-date=July 22, 2022}}</ref>

Greenberg faceswas betweensentenced 12on yearsThursday, andDecember life1, imprisonment at the sentencing hearing2022, though the plea agreement allows for the possibility ofby a departurefederal fromjudge minimumto sentencing11 guidelinesyears ifin Greenberg fully cooperatesprison.<ref>{{Cite webnews |last1last=SpeckAdelson |first1first=EmileeEric |last2=BadcockSchmidt |first2=MerrisMichael S. |date=May 14, 20212022-12-01 |title=JoelFormer GreenbergGaetz admitsConfidant toIs payingSentenced teento for11 sex,Years introducingin herPrison to|language=en-US other|work=The men,New documentsYork showTimes |url=https://www.clickorlandonytimes.com/news2022/local12/202101/05us/14politics/joelmatt-greenberggaetz-admitsconfidant-togreenberg-payingsentence.html |access-teendate=2023-for01-sex-with-him-other-men-in-plea-agreement/20 |websiteissn=WKMG |access0362-date=June 4, 20224331}}</ref>

Greenberg's father is Jewish. Greenberg was raised in a Christian family and attended a Christian church. As an adult, Greenberg has identified himself as being Jewish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pinsky |first=Mark I. |date=April 1, 2021 |title=Gaetz crony Joel Greenberg is only Jewish 'as a prop' say his critics |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/466926/gaetz-crony-joel-greenberg-is-only-jewish-as-a-prop-say-his-many-many/ |url-status=live |archive-date= |website=Forward |access-date=September 8, 2021}}</ref> Greenberg married his wife, Abby, in 2016 and has a son and a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 26, 2020 |title=Meet Joel M. Greenberg|url=https://seminolecounty.tax/meet-joel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626022555/https://seminolecounty.tax/meet-joel/ |archive-date=June 26, 2020 |website=Seminole County Tax Collector |access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref>

[[Category:American peoplePoliticians convicted of mail and wire fraud]]