A sex trafficking investigation of Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., began with an inquiry into an associate of his who's awaiting trial on trafficking, stalking and identity fraud charges.
The associate, Joel Micah Greenberg — who Gaetz once suggested should run for Congress in Florida — was charged with additional counts Wednesday stemming from his three years as an elected county tax official.
"Greenberg used his position as Seminole County Tax Collector to engage in, and facilitate, the commission of federal offenses, including sex trafficking of a child, illegally obtaining personal information from a motor vehicle record ... illegally producing identification and false identification documents, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud and money laundering," federal prosecutors said in the newly unsealed third superseding indictment.
Greenberg has pleaded not guilty to the trafficking, stalking and identity fraud charges, and he is scheduled to be arraigned on the wire fraud and money laundering charges next week.
"Right now we're preparing for the upcoming trial date in June. Joel maintains his innocence and has previously pleaded not guilty," said Fritz Scheller, Greenberg's attorney.
Law enforcement officials confirmed to NBC News that the investigation of Gaetz, who has not been charged, originated from the investigation of Greenberg, which has taken numerous turns since he was arrested in June over allegations that he slimed a rival candidate for tax collector.
Gaetz denied any wrongdoing in a statement Tuesday night and again during an interview with Fox News. "No part of the allegations against me are true," he said.
Greenberg and Gaetz, both Republicans, were elected in 2016. The extent of their relationship is unclear. The Orlando Sentinel said Greenberg had described Gaetz to former employees as a close friend who would often visit his house.
Gaetz posted a picture of himself on Facebook at dinner with Greenberg and former Trump adviser Roger Stone in 2017 and referred to Greenberg as a "2nd Amendment champion."
In 2019, Greenberg tweeted a picture of himself and Gaetz in front of the White House. Greenberg tweeted a picture of his young daughter with Gaetz, President Donald Trump and Melania Trump the same day.
Gaetz donated $1,000 to Greenberg's re-election effort in June, and he said in 2017 that Greenberg would be a great candidate for Congress because he had taken the tax collector's office "by storm."
"He's been a disruptor," Gaetz told WFLA radio of Tampa.
Greenberg's tenure was turbulent. There were calls for him to resign from his $150,000-a-year post in 2018 after a derogatory social media post about Muslims, and a Muslim employee later settled a discrimination suit against him.
He was accused of misusing his authority by pulling over a woman for speeding and flashing his tax collector's badge as if he were a police officer in December 2017. Prosecutors said he didn't break any laws, but they described his actions as inappropriate