JOEL GREENBERG

Two of former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg's former associates face a litany of charges, according to a federal indictment.

Federal indictment Two associates of former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg were indicted last week, accused of defrauding a real estate investor of $12 million. (WFTV.com News Staff)Two associates of former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg were indicted last week, accused of defrauding a real estate investor of $12 million. Keith Ingersoll and James Adamczyk are facing charges related to property sales in six states and the Bahamas. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<Federal investigators said the men are accused of using money from an investor that they claimed were refundable deposits for real estate for their own personal benefit. READ: Judge agrees to delay Joel Greenberg’s sentencingInvestigators said the men and other co-conspirators stole over $12 million as a result of the conspiracy and scheme to defraud.

As former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg awaits sentencing on child sex trafficking and other federal charges, his estranged wife is asking a judge for permission to sell the couple’s home in Lake Mary’s Heathrow community.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A judge agreed Monday to postpone the sentencing of former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<In May, Greenberg pleaded guilty to six charges in federal court, including child sex trafficking and wire fraud. Greenberg was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19, but the judge first approved a motion to postpone his sentencing until Nov. 18, and now again until next year. READ: Prosecutors request forfeiture of more than $600,000 in assets from ex-tax collector Joel GreenbergThe judge granted the motion, but said no additional continuances will be granted absent “extraordinary circumstances.”Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

A federal judge granted Joel Greenberg a second delay of his sentencing on Monday, pushing the former Seminole County tax collectors sentencing date into 2022.

Matt Gaetz's most talkative and incarcerated friend has avoided sentencing for a second time. Former Seminole County Tax Collector and current convicted felon Joel Greenberg...

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg is asking a judge to postpone his sentencing on child sex trafficking and other criminal charges until March 2022 so he can continue cooperating with federal authorities on other investigations, according to a newly filed court motion.

Gaetz Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and his wife Ginger Luckey walk through the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Greenberg asked the federal judge in a court filing to move his sentencing date from mid-November to next March. Gaetz, a Republican who represents much of the Florida Panhandle, was not mentioned in Greenberg's plea agreement. But Greenberg's cooperation could play a role in an ongoing investigation into whether Gaetz paid a 17-year-old girl for sex. Meanwhile, in Pensacola, a man accused of orchestrating the extortion plot linked to Gaetz's federal sex investigation pleaded not guilty Friday in federal court.

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg is asking a judge to postpone his sentencing on child sex trafficking and other criminal charges until March 2022 so he can continue cooperating with federal authorities on other investigations, according to a newly filed court motion.

A friend of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz has asked a judge to postpone his sentencing until next year so he can continue cooperating with authorities.

Joel Greenberg, the friend of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz who pleaded guilty earlier this year to sex trafficking, asked a judge on Tuesday to postpone his sentencing until next year so he can continue cooperating with federal authorities. Greenberg asked the federal judge in a court filing to move his sentencing date from mid-November to next March. The extra time will give the former local tax collector from an Orlando suburb more time to sit for interviews with federal investigators, the filing said.

Former Seminole County tax collector and current convicted felon Joel Greenberg is asking to delay his sentencing yet again. The reason is that he still...

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Photos Getty ImagesWhile the federal sex crimes investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has not fueled the kinds of explosive headlines it generated when the news first broke in late March, the case shows no signs of a slowdown.In fact, legal experts told The Daily Beast, the perceived lull is nothing outside the norm and can be chalked up to a number of factors—including a wide range of charges that investigators could be exploring. Although Gaetz and his

ORLANDO, Fla. — Lawyers for the U.S. Government have requested a forfeiture of more than $650,000 former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg admitted he stole from the county as part of a guilty plea. In May, Greenberg pleaded guilty to six charges in federal court including child sex trafficking and wire fraud. The motion requests that Greenberg’s assets be included as a possible substitute for the funds. READ: Trial delayed for father accused of murdering his familyThe government is asking the judge to include the forfeiture when Greenberg’s sentence is announced. Greenberg was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19, but the judge approved a motion to postpone his sentencing until Nov. 18.

Report: Matt Gaetz's former wingman has given investigators thousands of photos, videos, and texts

When the woman asked Greenberg if Gaetz used the same website that he used to communicate with her, Greenberg reportedly said, "He knows the deal :)"

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg is providing Matt Gaetz's investigators with a trove of information. According to a new report, the disgraced Florida...

Officials say Joel Greenberg, the friend of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz who pleaded guilty earlier this year to identity theft and other charges, accessed a restricted state database through his position as a local tax collector in Florida to look up information on hundreds of people.

Two new billboards close to the Governor's Mansion in Tallahassee attempt to draw a line between Ron DeSantis and embattled Florida congressman Matt Gaetz. The...

Matt Gaetz's soon-to-be extended family is telling tales out of school. Roxanne Luckey, the sister of Gaetz fiancee Ginger Luckey, has posted a series of...

As Seminole County’s former tax collector awaits sentencing on federal charges including child sex trafficking and stalking a political rival, one of Joel Greenberg’s victims is demanding an outside review into how state and local authorities initially investigated the elected official.

Thousands of dollars in sports memorabilia owned by an associate of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz could be sold to recoup misused taxpayer money.

Thousands of dollars in sports memorabilia owned by an associate of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz could be sold to recoup misused taxpayer money. Seminole County Attorney Bryant Applegate told the county commission last week that public money was used by former tax collector Joel Greenberg for valuable items, including memorabilia signed by the former NBA stars Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. “What I’m asking for — will be asking for — is not only the money that was used to pay for the memorabilia but also the memorabilia back so that we can sell it back out on the market,” Bryant told commissioners, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/GettyWith the possibility of sex trafficking charges still hanging over him, Rep. Matt Gaetz’s latest campaign finance report shows a spate of new legal spending, a massive public relations blitz, and continued payments to one conspicuous MAGA icon: Roger Stone.Nearly half the embattled congressman’s $1.95 million in expenses—a little over $825,000—went to public affairs firm Logan Circle Group, which has handled Gaetz’s media strategy sin

ORLANDO, Fla. — A death investigation is underway in Thornton Park. Orlando police said they are investigating a death near the intersection of Summerlin Avenue and Mariposa Street near Lake Olive. READ: ‘Field of Dreams’ site to finally welcome MLBOfficers said the victim is an adult male and that there are no obvious signs of foul play. Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. READ: Ex-tax collector Joel Greenberg’s sentencing delayed until November

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg will wait a little longer to find out how long he may spend behind bars. Greenberg, who pleaded guilty to six charges, including child sex trafficking, in federal court in May, was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 19. READ: Ex-tax collector Joel Greenberg pleads guilty to 6 charges, including child sex traffickingBut a judge approved a motion on Wednesday to postpone his sentencing 90 days until Nov. 18. SEE: Sketches of Joel Greenberg in federal courtAs part of a cooperation agreement, Greenberg’s testimony could lead to others facing charges. READ: Joel Greenberg to cooperate with investigators, plead guilty to 6 federal charges in court Monday

Greenberg was due to be sentenced on August 19, but asked for 90 days to finish giving "additional proffers" to prosecutors.

Joel Greenberg, a former Florida tax official, pleaded guilty in May to six counts tied to wire fraud, identity theft, bribery and the sex trafficking of a minor.

Joel Greenberg, a key figure in the federal probe involving Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, is currently set to be sentenced Aug. 19.

Photo illustration by The Daily Beast/handoutJoel Greenberg—the Rep. Matt Gaetz wingman who pleaded guilty and is now helping authorities investigate the congressman’s involvement in an underage sex ring—has so much evidence that he needs more than 44 days to share it.In a court document filed Tuesday, Greenberg, the disgraced local tax collector asked a federal judge to push back his sentencing.The letter describes “ongoing cooperation which will not be completed prior to his current sentencing

Joel Greenberg, the ex-Seminole County Tax Collector, is seeking to delay his sentencing on federal charges by 90 days, according to court documents.

Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg is asking for more time to talk to the feds ahead of his sentencing on federal charges. Greenberg...

Probe being assisted by Florida lawmaker’s former friend Joel Greenberg after plea deal struck

Congressional Representative Matt Gaetz keeps some highly disreputable company. Beyond palling around with disgraced former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, the Chipley Republican is...

"Newsmax has had no plans to hire Rep. Gaetz," a spokesperson told Reuters. Gaetz reportedly approached the cable network earlier this year.

Feds examining telephone call with witness in sex investigation involving congressman

A sentencing date has been set for ex-Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg following a guilty plea from the Republican politician in May.

Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Florida congressman Matt Gaetz obstructed justice in conversation with a key witness in the ongoing probe into whether he committed...

The probe is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into the congressman.

The Justice Department is investigating Representative Matt Gaetz after one of his former associates pleaded guilty to violating federal sex-trafficking laws. Politico national politics reporter Marc Caputo joins CBSN to discuss whether Gaetz's ex-girlfriend is cooperating with investigators, his tour with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and the Florida Republican's relationship with Governor Ron DeSantis.

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty in federal court last week to six charges, including sex trafficking of a minor.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said members of Congress effectively "served in war" during the January 6 riot.

The former Capitol Hill staffer has been linked to Gaetz since at least the summer of 2017 - an apparent time period of interest for investigators.

A South Carolina man and his alleged girlfriend were on the run together before police apprehended the girlfriend. A South Carolina man wanted for murder is still at large. Tyler Terry, 27, and Adrienne Simpson, 34, led officers on a high-speed chase on Monday.

"I would not feel really comfortable if I was anyone that had committed a crime with" Joel Greenberg right now, one former FBI agent told Insider.

After three days of dramatic and often emotional testimony from three women who said “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson raped them nearly 20 years ago, a judge on Friday found that he must stand trial. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine F. Olmedo ordered Masterson to trial on three counts of rape by force or fear, charges that could get him up to 45 years in prison. Masterson, 45, has pleaded not guilty.

The Trump Organization is now facing a criminal investigation. RICO experts explain why racketeering charges could be on the table.

Is the truth out there? Former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is weighing in. Reid wrote an article for The New York Times on Friday discussing how he became "increasingly interested in UFOs," something he says his staff warned him not to "engage" with publicly. Despite their warnings, the former Nevada senator, as he recounts, helped secure funding for the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, a Pentagon program to investigate UFO reports. "I believed that an unofficial taboo regarding the frank discussion of encounters could harm our national security and stymie opportunities for technical advancement," Reid writes. "Which is why, along with Senators [Ted] Stevens and [Daniel] Inouye, I helped create that secret Pentagon program in 2007. We wanted to take a close, scientific look at the technological implications of reported UFO encounters." Reid argues that there's information the government has uncovered during its UFO investigations "that can be disclosed to the public without harming our national security," as "the American people deserve to know more — and hopefully they will soon" through the upcoming release of a UFO report requested by the Senate Intelligence Committee. At one point, Reid also describes visiting Area 51 as a senator and seeing fascinating things. "As a Democratic senator from Nevada, I visited Area 51, the top-secret Air Force testing site in southern Nevada long associated with UFO-related conspiracy theories," he writes. "What I saw fascinated me, though much of it must remain classified." He does mention, though, during one visit seeing the "facility that housed the Air Force's secret new stealth fighters." Reid stresses that "there's still a great deal we don't understand" and that "focusing on little green men or conspiracy theories won't get us far," also writing that "I have never intended to prove that life beyond Earth exists." He adds, though, "If science proves that it does, I have no problem with that." Read the full essay at The New York Times. More stories from theweek.comWill cryptocurrency cause the next financial crisis?Joe Manchin calls increasingly likely GOP filibuster of Jan. 6 commission 'so disheartening'In the Heights is the perfect post-pandemic movie

"She was a little younger than me, so it's like the Romeo and Juliet story," Anthony Bouchard told his followers in a Facebook Live video.

Amazon has temporarily shut down a new warehouse construction site in Connecticut after a seventh noose was found hanging over a beam, a series of incidents local police called “potential” hate crimes. Another rope tied like a noose was discovered Wednesday at the site in Windsor, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Hartford, prompting an intensified law enforcement investigation and calls by the state NAACP on Thursday for the suspect or suspects to be brought to justice. Amazon said in a statement that it is closing the site until Monday so that additional security measures can be put in place.

A grand jury subpoena from last December has shed some light on the scope of the sex trafficking investigation into congressman Matt Gaetz. The document...

Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty/FacebookText messages between Rep. Matt Gaetz’s wingman and a former Florida shock jock reveal how people with key information about an alleged underage sex ring were scrambling as the feds closed in—and they bolster the evidence in a growing scandal that could take down the congressman.Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg was already under investigation when he had a private exchange with his one-time sports radio co-host, “Big Joe” Ellicott. In that exchange, conducted over the encrypted messaging app Signal and obtained by The Daily Beast, Ellicott expressed fear that others in their group of friends faced legal jeopardy for having sex with a 17-year-old girl.Ellicott wrote that a mutual friend, a woman who figures prominently in Greenberg‘s Venmo transactions, “knew [the minor] was underage the whole time, had sex with her, and they both went [to] see other guys.”Ellicott, who is Venmo friends with Gaetz and a number of women in the alleged sex ring, also acknowledged that “for other guys she brought ___ along to see, that could be trafficking,” using a nickname for the former teen. The Daily Beast has independently verified the young woman’s identity but is withholding her name.The Signal messages were set to disappear after 30 seconds, but Greenberg—as he’d done with vanishing communications between himself and Roger Stone—screenshotted the message.On Thursday, Politico reported that Ellicott was listed in a Dec. 2020 grand jury subpoena issued to another person related to the ongoing sex trafficking investigation. According to the report, the subpoena also listed three other individuals: Gaetz, Greenberg, and former Florida state Rep. Halsey Beshears, who served with Gaetz while he was in the Florida legislature.Ellicott has not responded to repeated requests for comment over the last seven weeks, and did not respond to a detailed list of questions The Daily Beast sent to him Thursday morning.On Monday, Greenberg pleaded guilty to six felonies including sex trafficking a minor. His plea agreement, signed last week, turns him into a possible government witness against other targets of the ongoing investigation, including Gaetz.But there are other potential witnesses who could turn against Gaetz. And while Gaetz told Politico he barely knew Ellicott, he acknowledged that he was familiar with him.Still, according to the Signal messages exchanged with Greenberg, Ellicott knew about Greenberg and others having sex with the then-17-year-old. And he was so familiar with the situation that he expressed concern over a certain woman turning into a state’s witness.These text messages also support a key detail in that plea agreement. After his arrest in June 2020, Greenberg tried to communicate with the minor through a backchannel, an attempt at “making sure that their stories would line up,” according to the plea agreement that Greenberg signed.In their Signal conversation, Greenberg and Ellicott also discussed what an intermediary told them federal investigators had asked the former teenager in an interview, and the subpoena notes that the grand jury is investigating possible obstruction of justice. Additionally, Greenberg and Ellicott went over explanations for payments that had been flagged in that interview, including a $150 Venmo transaction for “Shoes.”The messages also match a crucial detail in a confession letter Greenberg wrote in late 2020 in an attempt to secure a presidential pardon, months before the investigation into Gaetz was publicly reported. In the messages, Ellicott says a young woman they both knew had sex with the then-minor. Greenberg also made this claim in his confession, alongside this allegation against Gaetz: “On more than one occasion, this individual was involved in sexual activities with several of the other girls, the congressman from Florida’s 1st Congressional District and myself.”But questions about Greenberg’s credibility—given that he is an admittedly corrupt politician—mean that federal prosecutors could need additional corroborating witnesses.And that’s where “Big Joe” Ellicott could be helpful.Ellicott and Greenberg have been close for years. Ellicott was a groomsman at Greenberg’s wedding in 2016. They co-hosted sports talk radio shows and frequently went fishing together at sea. The year Greenberg took office, Ellicott became his right-hand man as the “assistant deputy tax collector” for Seminole County.It was there that Ellicott racked up nearly $16,000 of charges on his taxpayer-funded American Express card which were later deemed suspicious, according to an outside financial audit of Greenberg’s self-dealing conducted last year and obtained via public records request.In that audit, outside forensic accountants flagged more than $1,000 Ellicott spent on shirts from Casual Male XL that had no county logos—and thus, no justification as an agency expense. They also questioned more than $5,000 for hardware tools and knives, which the tax office’s chief financial officer suspected Ellicott diverted for his own purposes.“We believe these are items for his personal store in Maitland,” the tax office’s chief financial officer noted in the documents. That store would be “Uncle Joe's Coins, Bullion & Collectibles,” a small shop that at one time doubled as a federally-licensed firearms dealer, called “Uncle Joe’s Guns.”“Why would a tax collector need a bunch of knives? It was one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen,” Daniel J. O'Keefe, an accountant who conducted a forensic audit for the county, told The Daily Beast.“None of that material was in the office. We assume he took it,” O’Keefe said. “People must think we’re all idiots or something… that they can get away with something like this and not get caught.”Prosecutors have not charged Ellicott with any crimes, but Greenberg’s plea agreement notes that crimes committed with his American Express cards merit federal charges, as the cards are instruments of interstate commerce.Amy Tyler, the tax agency’s chief operating officer at the time, claimed Ellicott would be at his shop while he was still on the clock at the tax office a half hour drive away. She said Ellicott was scheduled to work an all-day shift at the tax office, but would regularly arrive around 10 a.m. and leave by 2 p.m. and take lunch breaks at the shop.“He went there daily. He didn't come to work,” Tyler said. “Joe didn't get into any kind of trouble for it. Joel always protected Joe, no matter what. Nothing that Joe did was wrong. Period. There was always an excuse, always a reason.”Ellicott was also accused of repeatedly sexually harassing a female employee, according to an attorney’s letter to the tax agency that The Daily Beast received in a public records request. Three people familiar with the harassment said Ellicott continued the behavior despite repeated warnings, as his best friend remained the head of the agency. The county eventually awarded the young woman a $40,000 settlement, records show. The Orlando Sentinel first reported on the settlement last year.Tyler also said tax agency staff—Greenberg’s own friends—once cornered the young woman who received the settlement in an office and grilled her about the harassment until she broke down in tears.“They were blaming it on her, saying she was taking things wrong,” Tyler told The Daily Beast. “They said, ‘Well you giggled.’”When the tax agency bought a brand new, $49,000 black Chevy Silverado pickup truck in 2017, it quickly appeared to become Ellicott’s personal vehicle, according to four people who saw him use it extensively. Although the rules limited its use to inter-office travel on official government business, the truck’s odometer showed it drove 77,000 miles in the three years Ellicott had it, according to the tax office.When Greenberg was arrested last year and lost re-election, the temporary fill-in pushed a number of Greenberg’s hires out of the tax office, including Ellicott.While Gaetz told Politico he didn’t spend much time with Ellicott during his frequent trips to the Orlando area, the fourth man on the subpoena—Beshears—allegedly accompanied Gaetz and a number of young women, including the former minor, on a 2018 trip to the Bahamas. The Justice Department has reportedly zeroed in on that trip in a corruption probe involving the congressman.Beshears stepped down from his administration post in late January, citing personal health reasons.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

During a press conference on Wednesday, before the vote on a bill that would create a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi responded to a reporter’s question about what some Republicans fear from such a panel. “I don’t know. You’d have to ask them what they’re afraid of,” Pelosi said. “It sounds like they’re afraid of the truth, and that’s most unfortunate.”

More than 75% of the group's 58 members supported the call to form a commission that would examine the lead up and response to the insurrection.

The Justice Department is investigating whether Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Florida Republican. violated federal sex trafficking laws.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — Rep. Val Demings is planning to challenge Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, giving Democrats a boost in a competitive 2022 race that could decide control of the Senate, according to two people with knowledge of the plans. READ: Child Tax Credit: Parents will start receiving monthly advance payments July 15Demings, who gained national recognition as a House prosecutor in former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial, had been considering a run for governor in Florida. In considering a Senate campaign instead, she avoids what could be a divisive primary and gives Democrats a well-known name to compete in a state where elections are often decided by a narrow margin. READ: Ex-tax collector Joel Greenberg pleads guilty to 6 charges, including child sex traffickingHer plans were first reported by Politico. READ: IRS to send refunds to those who got unemployment payments and overpaid their taxes

Greenberg pleaded guilty to six felony counts including sex trafficking, and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors.

Rep. Matt Gaetz was not mentioned in the plea agreement or during the hearing, and the Republican congressman has not been charged with a crime.

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty Monday morning to six criminal charges including child sex trafficking.

The attorney would not comment on whether he felt the congressman should be indicted

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — The Volusia County Council could decide Tuesday if it will amend its code and allow short-term rentals in residential zones. Supporters say the rentals help draw tourists and money to the area, and promote the county. READ: Ex-tax collector Joel Greenberg pleads guilty to 6 charges, including child sex traffickingBut some neighbors say the noise and trash are big problems. Now that it has not passed, it’s up to Volusia County to decide what it will do. READ: Orlando City Soccer announces full capacity seating at Exploria Stadium starting in JuneThe county reports this year there have been 83 complaints so far filed against short-term rentals.

ORLANDO, Fla — There will be no statewide online gambling in Florida. Just minutes into a special session to implement a new Seminole Gaming Compact, Speaker of the Florida House Chris Sprowls made an announcement. Opponents to the expansion of gambling have already started making a push to halt the deal on moral grounds. The tribe will be able to offer new table games (roulette and craps) as well as a sports book. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

The attorney would not comment on whether he felt the congressman should be indicted

The man who investigators say was the target of an online smear campaign perpetrated by Joel Greenberg spoke to the media on Monday as the former Seminole County tax collector pleaded guilty in federal court to six charges, including child sex trafficking.

A Florida politician who emerged as a central figure in the Justice Department’s sex trafficking investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz has pleaded guilty to six federal charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of a plea deal.

Joel Greenberg admitted to having a sexual relationship and trafficking a minor in his plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

A Florida politician who is a central figure in the federal sex trafficking investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz has agreed to cooperate with federal investigators.

A notice filed by Greenberg’s attorney Fritz Scheller Friday shows he plans to change his not-guilty plea during a hearing Monday.

A notice filed by Greenberg’s attorney Fritz Scheller Friday shows he plans to change his not-guilty plea during a hearing Monday.

A key figure in the federal investigation of Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz is expected to plead guilty to criminal charges next week.

According to a forensic audit completed after Joel Greenberg left office, the one-time Seminole County Tax Collector used his newly acquired power to reward family, friends and the politically connected with questionable contracts, totaling more than $1 million in wasted taxpayer dollars.

Chris Dorworth, a former Florida state legislator and longtime associate of Congressman Matt Gaetz, abruptly departed his position at a lobbying firm Friday night.

Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg faces a federal judge for the first time since his case started drawing national attention.

An associate of Rep. Matt Gaetz's is working toward a plea deal with federal prosecutors investigating a sex trafficking operation, potentially escalating the legal and political jeopardy facing the Florida congressman.

The one-time rising Republican star now faces 33 federal charges. Here is a timeline showing Greenberg’s steps and possible missteps since he was elected.

The political peril is deepening for conservative Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.

The political peril is deepening for conservative Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg now faces 21 new federal charges, in addition to the 12 he was already facing. According to prosecutors, Greenberg diverted more than $400,000 in tax collector funds for his own personal gain. AdGreenberg used the tax collector’s American Express card to purchase cryptocurrency and used tax collector funds to operate a cryptocurrency mining operation for his own benefit and also used tax collector funds to run a business selling cryptocurrency mining tools to others, according to the indictment. Additionally, prosecutors said Greenburg used tax collector funds to buy sports memorabilia signed by Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. #BREAKING: Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg just got slapped w/ 21 new federal charges...in addition to the 12 he was already facing.

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg violated his probation this week when he went down to his mother-in-law’s home in Jupiter to find his wife, according to a police report. According to an arrest report from the Jupiter Police Department, officers went to Greenberg’s mother-in-law’s home in Jupiter Plantation after his ankle monitor alerted authorities to his whereabouts. She told police he showed up uninvited looking for his wife, Abby Greenberg, but she was not home when he arrived. AdAbby Greenberg said her husband used her Snapchat location to find her and drove from their home to Jupiter. Jupiter police were unable to get in touch with Greenberg’s probation officer and arrested him on a charge of violation of probation.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg was arrested Tuesday after prosecutors say he violated the conditions of his release on bail by traveling to Jupiter. Greenberg appeared before a judge at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday on the bond violation. On Friday, both sides agreed to lessen Greenberg’s bond restrictions but it’s unclear why since those court records are sealed. AdGreenberg, 35, served as Seminole County tax collector from January 2017 until June 24, 2020 when he stepped down from office following his indictment. The trial was set for March but Greenberg recently hired a new attorney, which could delay proceedings again.

The federal trial for former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg has been delayed and as of now, it won’t begin until at least June. Originally, Greenberg was set to stand trial in March but on Monday he waived his right to a speedy trial and that date was pushed back. Mark Horwitz formerly represented the former tax collector up until December of last year. She was acquitted following a federal trial. Jeff “J.R.” Kroll has since been elected as tax collector.

As we prepare to head into hopefully what will be a better and brighter 2021, we’re taking a look back at some of the strangest things that happened in Florida this year. While we’re on the topic of things that should remain saliva-free, there was this Florida woman who filmed herself licking a toilet seat “on a sugar daddy’s plane” in what she dubbed the “coronavirus challenge.”3. As a monumental tribute to the toilet paper hoarding, one Florida man hung a giant roll in his front yard for all to see at a time when he was down to his last three rolls. Perhaps the fan favorite this year was the Florida man who waded into the water and wrestled a gator that snatched up his poor little puppy. The video went viral on TikTok and gave as all a chance to bond over how much we hate long lights and bumper-to-bumper conditions on the road.

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg hired a new attorney to represent him in federal court this spring during his trial. Greenberg is scheduled to stand trial in March 2021 but it’s possible hiring a new attorney could delay proceedings. Mark Horwitz formerly represented the former tax collector up until December. An independent audit of the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office under Greenberg’s tenure found gross misuses of taxpayer money including the purchases of a sprinkler system to remotely spray petitioners, as well as tactical gear and weapons. Greenberg, 35, served as Seminole County tax collector from January 2017 until June 24 when he stepped down from office following his indictment.

Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, who was indicted in June on federal charges, is scheduled to stand trial in March 2021, as of now. [TRENDING: Man found clinging to boat 86 miles off Fla. | US may see ‘surge upon surge’ of COVID-19 | Mom of slain teen shot at burial service]Greenberg is facing federal charges of stalking, unlawful use of means to identify another person, production of identification and false identification documents, aggravated identity theft, sex trafficking of a child and violating the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. He has entered a plea of not guilty. Greenberg resigned from his position not long after he was indicted. Jeff “J.R.” Kroll has since been elected.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – An independent audit of the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office under the leadership of Joel Greenberg found gross misuses of taxpayer money including the purchases of sprinkler system to remotely spray petitioners, as well as tactical gear and weapons. Anything left over at the end of the fiscal year is returned to Seminole County taxing authorities. Auditors found GBS was set up to allow taxpayers to potentially make payments to the tax collector’s office using digital currency. Auditors also compared the Seminole County Tax Collector’s legal fees to surrounding counties. On Tuesday, Seminole County elected a new tax collector.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Republican Jeff ‘J.R.’ Kroll has been declared the winner of the Seminole County tax collector race with more than 54% of voters choosing Kroll over the Democratic candidate. With 79 out of 90 Seminole County precincts reporting on Election Night, Kroll had earned 54% of the county’s votes and Lynn “Moira” Dictor had 46%. The Seminole County tax collector is responsible for overseeing the office that issues driver’s licenses, decides how tax dollars will be invested back into the community and provides concealed weapons permits. Read more about Kroll’s opponent, Lynn “Moira” Dictor, below:Some Central Florida voters may know Lynn Dictor best as Moira from “The Philips Phile” on Real Radio 104.1. Dictor would like to pivot from her role as radio personality to Seminole County tax collector in order to bring more transparency to the office.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – It’ll be up to Seminole County voters to determine who will be the new tax collector after the man formerly in the position resigned amid his arrest on federal charges. Instead, voters will choose between Lynn Moira Dictor and Jeff “J.R.” Kroll, who beat Republican challenger Brian Beute during the August primary election. Here’s how to track your ballot]Whoever is elected to serve as Seminole County tax collector will be responsible for overseeing the office that issues driver’s licenses, decides how tax dollars will be invested back into the community and provides concealed weapons permits. Dictor would like to pivot from her role as radio personality to Seminole County tax collector in order to bring more transparency to the office. Jeff “J.R.” KrollJ.R. Kroll wrote that he was motivated to run for tax collector after “discovering the mismanagement of tax payers' money under the most recent administration.” He boasts two decades of business management experience that includes running his family business and becoming a top-selling realtor in the Orlando-area market.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. A judge has modified the conditions of the release of former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, who has pleaded not guilty to federal charges, including child sex trafficking. [RELATED: Former tax collector Joel Greenberg pleads not guilty to new sex trafficking charges | Ex-tax collector Joel Greenberg accused of using DMV database to engage in sugar daddy relationships]He is accused of using his access to state databases to recruit and solicit an underage girl for sex. He resigned as a tax collector of Seminole County in June. The fake IDs Greenberg made were used to facilitate his efforts to engage in commercial sex acts, according to court documents. The former tax collector faces up to 12 federal charges, including unlawful use of means of identification of another person, producing false identification, identity theft and stalking.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Ex-Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg entered a not guilty plea to the latest federal charges against him that include child sex trafficking. Greenberg was indicted Aug. 19 on new federal charges that allege he used his access to state databases to recruit and solicit an underage girl for sex. Greenberg, who resigned as tax collector in June after his arrest on federal stalking charges, was indicted by a federal grand jury on the new charges, which include sex trafficking of a child and violating the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. The fake IDs Greenberg made were used to “facilitate his efforts to engage in commercial sex acts,” according to court documents. The former tax collector now faces up to 12 federal charges, including unlawful use of means of identification of another person, producing false identification, identity theft and stalking.

Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg was indicted Wednesday on new federal charges that allege he used his access to state databases to recruit and solicit an underage girl for sex. The former elected official is already facing charges and accused of using information from surrendered driver’s licenses to make fake IDs with his picture on it, according to a federal indictment. The fake IDs Greenberg made were used to “facilitate his efforts to engage in commercial sex acts,” according to court documents. The victim was between 14 and 17 years old, according to the federal indictment. Greenberg will face a federal judge on Aug. 27 in Orlando to be arraigned on the news charges.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. Two Republicans are in the running to replace former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, who resigned from office after he was indicted on federal stalking charges. The victim in that stalking case, teacher Brian Beute, will be on the ballot, along with realtor J.R. Kroll. Ultimately, whoever is elected to serve as Seminole County tax collector will be responsible for overseeing the office that issues drivers licenses, decides how tax dollars will be invested back into the community and provides concealed weapons permits. He filed to run for tax collector in 2019, after becoming the inaugural president of Save Rural Seminole County, a group dedicated to preserving and protecting the countys rural areas. His campaign promises include restructuring the tax collectors office, ordering an independent audit of the agency and employing fiscally conservative policies.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A memo filed Wednesday in the case against former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg outlines some of the evidence used to arrest him on federal stalking charges, including DNA and fingerprints on letters. [READ: Seminole County tax collector resigns after indictment on federal stalking charges | Former Seminole County Tax Collector accused of making fake IDs with customers’ information]A criminal investigation found the victim did not have any sexual contact with any students. According to the document filed Wednesday, Greenberg used his personal email domain -- @joelgreenberg.net -- to create the fraudulent Twitter profile. [RELATED: Seminole County tax collector accused of stalking political opponent indicted on federal charges | Former Seminole County tax collector pleads not guilty to federal stalking charges]As far as the request for a bill of particulars, Lopez is asking that it be denied because the victim’s name is mentioned 400 times and the school where he works is mentioned 300 times in the documents provided as part of discovery. In the same memo, Lopez also mentions that there is an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the federal stalking case.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – While his office was closed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg was at the location “practicing” how to make fake concealed weapon permits, according to federal prosecutors. The new allegation comes as evidence continues to mount against Greenberg, who resigned in June after he was indicted on federal stalking charges. [RELATED: Seminole County tax collector resigns after indictment on federal stalking charges | Former Seminole County tax collector pleads not guilty to federal stalking charges]After Greenberg left the office, officials said pieces of the card stock paper used for concealed weapon permits were found in his office. Employees of the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office advise that an employee observed Greenberg take surrendered licenses from the shred basket prior to them being shredded. In the federal stalking case, Greenberg has already entered a plea of not guilty.

Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal stalking charges after federal prosecutors say he is accused of harassing a political opponent. Greenberg, 35, served as Seminole County tax collector since January 2017. Greenberg entered a not guilty plea Sunday through his attorney, waiving his in-person arraignment in the U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida. Greenberg is accused of spreading false information about a political opponent who worked at a Seminole County school and attempting to cause “substantial emotional distress,” documents show. Republican Seminole County Tax Collector candidate Brian Beute confirmed through his attorney the actions described in the federal indictment were targeted at him.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – A day after being indicted on federal stalking charges stemming from a series of online incidents involving a political opponent, Joel Greenberg has resigned from his position as Seminole County tax collector. The attorney representing the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office confirmed the news Wednesday evening. “Brian and his family are relieved and grateful that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has fought to bring the perpetrator of this nightmare to justice.”Greenberg, 35, had served as Seminole County tax collector since January 2017. During that time, he’s made headlines for trespassing a Seminole County commissioner, sharing an anti-Muslim Facebook post and asking for a pass during a traffic stop. During a federal court appearance Tuesday, a judge granted Greenberg a conditional release.

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg was indicted in federal court Tuesday on charges of stalking and unlawful use of means to identify another person in an attempt to upset a fellow candidate, according to court records filed in the Middle District of Florida. Greenberg is accused of spreading false information about a political opponent who worked at a Seminole County school and attempting to cause “substantial emotional distress,” documents show. Greenberg’s arrest this morning came as a surprise to all of us in the office,” said Brian Bieber, the attorney representing the Seminole County Tax Collector’s Office. Greenberg, 35, has been the tax collector in Seminole County since January 2017 and is no stranger to controversy. Early in his post, Greenberg trespassed a Seminole County commissioner and in 2018 came under fire for sharing an anti-Muslim Facebook post.