“Uniquely located:” Former Seminole tax collector Joel Greenberg is likely to make a claim settlement, according to attorney

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ORLANDO, Fla. – The case against Joel Greenberg was presented Thursday before a federal judge for a hearing on the status of the 33 charges he faces. Greenberg was not present in court.

Greenberg’s attorney, Fritz Scheller, announced during the hearing that the former Seminole County tax collector would likely file a petition sometime before the trial, but added that the deal has not yet been finalized.

The defense also said they hoped to have an agreement before May 15, but if no agreement is reached, they will go to trial.

The trial was also postponed until July, instead of the original June date, to accommodate the possibility that no agreement could be reached. Scheller did not give details of how a possible deal could be.

“If in this case I get a claim agreement, I will not sign it right away, I have to review it with my client and there is always some setback in the negotiation,” he said, speaking outside the courtroom after the hearing.

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The investigation into Greenberg was recently related to another Florida Republican, Rep. Matt Gaetz. The New York Times reported that the investigation into Greenberg led to another investigation by Gaetz into allegations that he had sex with a 17-year-old.

Gaetz has denied the allegations and said it is all part of a plot to extort money from his family and tarnish his name.

Scheller was asked if Gaetz’s possible involvement in the investigation gave his client an advantage in the negotiations.

“(If) Mr. Greenberg accepts a request or agreement of reason we want … it will show his feeling of remorse (which he does have), a sense of acceptance of responsibility. No. 2, I think he has a unique location “Scheller said.

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When asked if the congressman has anything to worry about following the news of this possible grievance agreement, Scheller said, “I’m sure Matt Gaetz doesn’t feel very comfortable today.”

He later added, “When I said, ‘Matt Gaetz would be worried,’ I mean … let me tell you what I’m basing on. I’m not revealing lawyer-client privilege (I want to clarify), but we’ve seen the number of stories and the emphasis in recent days on the relationship between Matt Gaetz and Joel Greenberg, right? I mean, then, it wouldn’t be obvious to assume that I would be worried about some. “

Greenberg resigned as a tax collector in June 2020, following his initial arrest on federal harassment charges after investigators said he made fake posts online with the goal of discrediting a political opponent.

Subsequently, the Seminole County Republican received more charges, including the illegal use of means to identify another person, the production of false identification and identification documents, aggravated identity theft, trafficking sexual assault of a child and violation of the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.

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More recently, Greenberg received a third indictment accusing him of embezzling more than $ 400,000 from the tax collector’s office – using part of the money from his cryptocurrency business – and fraudulent lending. of aid for economic disasters, EIDL, through the administration of small businesses. show. These loans were created to help companies in distress affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Prior to his most recent indictment, an independent audit of the tax collector’s office under Greenberg’s leadership also found serious misuse of taxpayer money, including purchases of spray systems to remotely spray petitioners, as well as tactical equipment and weapons.

Greenberg has been in prison since he was arrested on Jupiter for violating bonds in March. He has not pleaded guilty to all charges against him.

Greenberg was due to appear in court on Friday, but documents filed Wednesday show he waived his appearance.

His lawyer said that, at the moment, Greenberg has no statement to make about the charges against the people who elected him in 2016.

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“Not because he doesn’t want to comment or make statements. It’s because I told him not to. Okay, it might happen at a later date, ”Scheller said.

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