Gaetz associate seeks sentencing delay, still cooperating with prosecutors

Joel Greenberg, a former Florida county tax collector and associate of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), is asking a Florida federal court to delay his sentencing, citing his cooperation with prosecutors.

Greenberg, who is at the center of a federal sex trafficking investigation into Gaetz, pleaded guilty in May to six federal crimes — including trafficking a minor — and is facing at least 12 years in prison. 

He was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19. But in court filings on Tuesday, Greenberg’s attorneys are seeking a 90-day delay for the hearing, saying because he can’t finish his cooperation before his sentencing.

According to the documents, the government is not opposed to the delay.

“Pursuant to his plea agreement with the Government, Mr. Greenberg has been cooperating with the Government and has participated in a series of proffers,” wrote Fritz Scheller, who is representing Greenberg.

“Said cooperation, which could impact his ultimate sentence, cannot be completed prior to the time of his sentencing. 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,” Scheller wrote.

Scheller further said that the cooperation, which would not be completed before the Aug. 19 date, “could have an impact on his final sentence.”

As part of the plea, Greenberg admitted to recruiting women for sex acts, and paying them over $70,000 between 2016 and 2018. He also admitted to paying an underage girl for sex.

The New York Times first reported in April that Greenberg had been cooperating with prosecutors.