Gaetz associate Joel Greenberg expected to plead guilty next week

A federal court has scheduled a change of plea hearing for Joel Greenberg, the Florida official and accused sex trafficker at the center of the legal investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), indicating he’ll likely enter a plea agreement with federal prosecutors.

District Judge Leslie Hoffman announced the hearing on Thursday, scheduling it for Monday, and ordered the parties to submit the terms of any plea agreement prior to the hearing.

The announcement shows that Greenberg is expected to plead guilty to federal charges, but the terms of an agreement — including specific charges he may plead guilty to — have not been made available.

Federal Judge Gregory Presnell last month had set a May 15 deadline for Greenberg to reach a possible deal with prosecutors.

In April it was reported that Greenberg was cooperating with federal authorities, telling investigators that he and Gaetz had given multiple women money and gifts in exchange for sex. Greenberg currently faces dozens of counts including sex trafficking of a minor and corruption. 

The Daily Beast reported that Gaetz had sent Venmo payments to Greenberg in 2018 amounting to $900. Greenberg in turn sent $900 to three girls, categorizing them for “Tuition” and “School.” Gaetz reportedly labelled one payment “hit up _____,” using a nickname for one of the girls.

It was revealed in March that the Department of Justice was conducting an investigation into Gaetz over an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, with The New York Times reporting that investigators were looking into whether Gaetz allegedly broke sex trafficking laws by paying for the girl’s travel.

Gaetz has denied the allegations and has not been charged with any crime. His spokesman, Harlan Hill, told The Hill in a statement last month that Greenberg “has been trying to ensnare innocent people in his troubles for quite some time.”