Federal authorities have charged a Florida developer in connection with an alleged plan to extort $ 25 million from Rep. Matt Gaetz
Matthew (Matt), developer of GaetzFlorida, accused of an alleged M scheme to extort Gaetz’s family, on January 6 seeks a record of those involved in the “Stop the Steal” rally.(R-Fla.) Pare in exchange for the promise of a presidential pardon for possible crimes in the FBI investigation into allegations of sex trafficking against the legislature.
The U.S. Attorney for the North Florida District announced Tuesday that Stephen Alford, 62, who was previously convicted of federal fraud charges in a separate case, has been charged by a grand federal jury with fraud offenses for cable and attempt to prevent the confiscation of an electronic device.
According to an unclosed indictment Tuesday, Alford allegedly participated in a complex scheme called “Project Homecoming,” between March and April this year, in which the Fort Walton Beach man claimed his team had been insured by the president. “who” will firmly consider “a” presidential pardon “or” instruct the Department of Justice to complete any investigation involving “a person, identified in the reports as Gaetz.
Federal prosecutors noted that the money raised from the alleged extortion plan should be used to help rescue Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran in 2007.
Gaetz announced federal charges against Alford and attacked the alleged plan Twitter, stating, “I was right. They tried to extort me with a bunch of lies.”
Although the indictment does not specifically mention the legislature by name and refers to the purpose of the extortion scheme as “DG,” Gaetz’s father, Don Gaetz, specifically mentioned Alford in an interview with March Politico when he supported his son’s claims that his family was the victim of an extortion plot by a former Justice Department (DOJ) official.
Don Gaetz told Politico at the time that he had been working with the FBI as part of an investigation into the alleged extortion plot and that he had carried a cable on several occasions.
Both Don and Matt Gaetz had accused the former federal prosecutor David McGee for being behind the alleged plot, which McGee has strongly denied.
Don Gaetz told Politico that he had tried to get Alford to discuss the payments he was making to McGee, but added that his planned meeting collapsed after the press reported on the DOJ’s sexual conduct investigation related to his son.
The attorney’s office said Alford made his initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday and is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
It was not immediately clear if there was a lawyer representing Alford, who was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
The Hill has contacted a representative of Matt Gaetz to comment.
The arrest and charges come as Gaetz continues to be investigated for having an inappropriate relationship with a minor and violating sex trafficking laws. Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.
Joel Greenberg, a former Gaetz associate, who in May pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a minor, allegedly cooperated with authorities in his investigation of Gaetz, even providing them with online records. for years.