<p><i>Editor’s Note: The original image attached to this article was in error, and has been replaced.</i></p>
<p>A federal judge sentenced a former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> tax collector to 11 years in prison on Thursday for sex trafficking a 17-year-old female and other criminal offenses.</p>
<p>Joel Greenberg, a former Seminole County tax collector, was accused of several crimes, including stalking a political opponent, public corruption, creating fake licenses, and plotting to submit false claims for a federal loan.</p>
<p>Greenberg pleaded guilty to six federal crimes, including identity theft, stalking, wire fraud, and conspiracy to bribe a public official.</p>
<p>“Nothing justifies my actions,” Greenberg said before U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell in an Orlando courtroom, according to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-arrests-florida-congress-government-and-politics-d657eda08a857f4c0a07d293bb109308" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Associated Press</a>. “My conduct is so shameful. I feel remorse for what I’ve done.”</p>
<p>Greenberg further issued a list of apologies in court — to the minor, the people of Seminole County, and his parents, children, and ex-wife.</p>
<p>“I deserve punishment no matter how long that may be,” he said, according to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/01/us/politics/matt-gaetz-confidant-greenberg-sentence.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The New York Times</a>.</p>
<p>The New York Times reported that Greenberg initially faced up to 30 years in prison for several crimes, including trafficking a 17-year-old girl, stalking a political rival, and stealing $400,000 in taxpayer money to buy cryptocurrencies and sports memorabilia.</p>
<p>However, federal authorities reduced his sentence in exchange for cooperation with the government, which led to investigations of 24 people, including eight for sex crimes.</p>
<p>U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who had ties with Greenberg, was probed by federal investigators after allegations were made that he paid for sex with a minor in violation of federal sex trafficking laws.</p>
<p>Gaetz has repeatedly denied the allegations, claiming they were part of an extortion plot from “people at the Department of Justice.”</p>
<p>Sources familiar with the investigation of Gaetz reported last month that prosecutors informed their superiors that they would not be pursuing charges against the representative in connection with a sex-trafficking investigation that has been ongoing since 2020.</p>
<p>Prosecutors argued that the charges would be dropped because Greenberg and another central witness in the case have questionable credibility.</p>
<p>Greenberg, a former associate of Gaetz, allegedly tried to smear the Republican congressman, similar to other accusations he made against politicians.</p>
<p>Judge Presnell said, “He has provided substantial cooperation to the government — more than I’ve seen in 22 years.”</p>
<p>“In 22 years, I’ve never experienced a case like this,” Judge Presnell said. “I have never seen a defendant who has committed so many different types of crimes in such a short period.”</p>
<p>Defense attorney Fritz Scheller said Greenberg’s cooperation brought four federal indictments, with more expected to come soon.</p>
<p>Scheller also reportedly requested to the judge that Greenberg only get a portion of the sentencing, arguing that his client had changed since committing the crimes.</p>
<p>“Mr. Greenberg was using money and sex to get access to political circles,” Scheller said. “He came from a dark place, a lack of self-worth, and tried to ingratiate himself with a collection of people.”</p>
<p>U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida described Greenberg as a “hardened criminal who never did the job he was elected to,” according to The New York Times.</p>
<p>“He was not deterred when he found himself under criminal investigation,” Handberg said, according to The New York Times. “He was not deterred when he was brought into this building.”</p>

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Former Florida Tax Collector Sentenced To 11 Years For Child Sex Trafficking

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Former Florida Tax Collector Sentenced To 11 Years For Child Sex Trafficking