Another person has agreed to cooperate in the sex crimes probe involving U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. Cutting a deal this time is Joseph Ellicott, best friend to Joel Greenberg, the disgraced tax collector who told prosecutors he was a “wingman” to Gaetz for drug-fueled underage sex romps.
Ellicott was indicted last week in Florida on two counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and distribution of a controlled substance. He entered his guilty pleas the same day. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but since he has agreed to cooperate with authorities, that sentence could be reduced.
The former shock jock was tapped by Greenberg in 2017 to serve under him as the supervisor of facilities at the Seminole County Tax Office in Florida.
Prosecutors say that job was a front and Ellicott served as the middleman in a bribe and kickback scheme where he would, as pointed out in The Daily Beast on Wednesday, “carry a $6,000 cash bribe from an unnamed tax office contractor to a public official—Greenberg.”
For the cash, Greenberg and the contractor would inflate invoices for the Seminole County Tax Office, keep the difference, and make sure to employ the corrupt contractor as often as possible.
The controlled substance charge involves Ellicott’s sale of Adderall to the tune of more than $5,000 spanning two years. Those payments were made over Venmo to Ellicott’s business, “Uncle Joe’s Coins,” or a check was cut.
The person Ellicott sold the drugs to is not named in the indictment.
Ellicott’s attorney, Joe Zwick, said Wednesday that his client would cooperate in the Gaetz case, which is currently housed with the U.S Department of Justice in Washington.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Ellicott “agrees to cooperate fully with the United States in the investigation and prosecution of other persons.”
He is subject to prosecution for perjury if he makes any false statements.
Ellicott's plea hearing is slated for this February. In the meantime, he must forfeit $6,000 “in proceeds the defendant admits were obtained as a result of the commission of the offenses,” the agreement notes.
His deal is arguably a good one given his existing list of potential liabilities.
As the Daily Beast first reported in May, Ellicott once sent a text to Greenberg expressing his concerns that he and others in their circle may be in hot water for having sex with a 17-year-old girl.
Ellicott was also worried that one of the teenagers involved might jeopardize them further since she brought yet another underage girl with her over state lines to one of the meetings.
Zwick said Ellicot’s case had “nothing to do with the sex scandal” but rather, it was only the “unprecedented” conduct unfolding in the Florida tax office run by Greenberg.
Zwick, did, however, tell The Washington Post on Wednesday that Ellicott, as a friend to someone who was close to Gaetz, often found himself privy to many conversations that may be of interest to investigators.
Those conversations were “basically like what you’d expect at a college frat party,” Zwick told The Washington Post.
Though Zwick stopped short of saying Ellicottt witnessed Gaetz doing drugs, having sex with underage women, or paying for it, he did say Ellicott witnessed “sex, drugs—a whole lot of it.”
Ellicott Plea Agreement by Daily Kos on Scribd
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Notably, the charges against Ellicott indicate he made the bribe to Greenberg mere weeks after Greenberg discovered, according to his own account, that one of the women he had sex with was underage.
In his plea agreement, Greenberg said he called Gaetz to warn him.
As for Gaetz, he has downplayed reports of the investigation and maintains his innocence.
Just a few weeks before Ellicott was charged, Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend cut a deal with prosecutors, securing her immunity in exchange for cooperation in the sex trafficking probe.
The ex-girlfriend, who has not been named, is reportedly considered a witness to both the sex trafficking crimes underpinning the Gaetz investigation and Gaetz’s alleged obstruction of that investigation.
It has been reported that Gaetz would often brag about his underage conquests coordinated by Greenberg. Allegations have also surfaced from anonymous sources claiming Gaetz showed people videos of naked women on his phone frequently.
The Department of Justice investigation is reportedly taking a close look at how Gaetz arranged the encounters with Greenberg’s help and whether they both slept with the same underage partners.
Zwick told the Post that the last time Ellicott met with investigators to discuss Gaetz was in the fall. Zwick says Ellicott has not yet provided testimony to a grand jury.
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Ellicot charges filed Jan. ... by Daily Kos
Ellicott was indicted last week in Florida on two counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and distribution of a controlled substance. He entered his guilty pleas the same day. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, but since he has agreed to cooperate with authorities, that sentence could be reduced.
The former shock jock was tapped by Greenberg in 2017 to serve under him as the supervisor of facilities at the Seminole County Tax Office in Florida.
Prosecutors say that job was a front and Ellicott served as the middleman in a bribe and kickback scheme where he would, as pointed out in The Daily Beast on Wednesday, “carry a $6,000 cash bribe from an unnamed tax office contractor to a public official—Greenberg.”
For the cash, Greenberg and the contractor would inflate invoices for the Seminole County Tax Office, keep the difference, and make sure to employ the corrupt contractor as often as possible.
The controlled substance charge involves Ellicott’s sale of Adderall to the tune of more than $5,000 spanning two years. Those payments were made over Venmo to Ellicott’s business, “Uncle Joe’s Coins,” or a check was cut.
The person Ellicott sold the drugs to is not named in the indictment.
Ellicott’s attorney, Joe Zwick, said Wednesday that his client would cooperate in the Gaetz case, which is currently housed with the U.S Department of Justice in Washington.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Ellicott “agrees to cooperate fully with the United States in the investigation and prosecution of other persons.”
He is subject to prosecution for perjury if he makes any false statements.
Ellicott's plea hearing is slated for this February. In the meantime, he must forfeit $6,000 “in proceeds the defendant admits were obtained as a result of the commission of the offenses,” the agreement notes.
His deal is arguably a good one given his existing list of potential liabilities.
As the Daily Beast first reported in May, Ellicott once sent a text to Greenberg expressing his concerns that he and others in their circle may be in hot water for having sex with a 17-year-old girl.
Ellicott was also worried that one of the teenagers involved might jeopardize them further since she brought yet another underage girl with her over state lines to one of the meetings.
Zwick said Ellicot’s case had “nothing to do with the sex scandal” but rather, it was only the “unprecedented” conduct unfolding in the Florida tax office run by Greenberg.
Zwick, did, however, tell The Washington Post on Wednesday that Ellicott, as a friend to someone who was close to Gaetz, often found himself privy to many conversations that may be of interest to investigators.
Those conversations were “basically like what you’d expect at a college frat party,” Zwick told The Washington Post.
Though Zwick stopped short of saying Ellicottt witnessed Gaetz doing drugs, having sex with underage women, or paying for it, he did say Ellicott witnessed “sex, drugs—a whole lot of it.”
Ellicott Plea Agreement by Daily Kos on Scribd
Scribd Content
Notably, the charges against Ellicott indicate he made the bribe to Greenberg mere weeks after Greenberg discovered, according to his own account, that one of the women he had sex with was underage.
In his plea agreement, Greenberg said he called Gaetz to warn him.
As for Gaetz, he has downplayed reports of the investigation and maintains his innocence.
Just a few weeks before Ellicott was charged, Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend cut a deal with prosecutors, securing her immunity in exchange for cooperation in the sex trafficking probe.
The ex-girlfriend, who has not been named, is reportedly considered a witness to both the sex trafficking crimes underpinning the Gaetz investigation and Gaetz’s alleged obstruction of that investigation.
It has been reported that Gaetz would often brag about his underage conquests coordinated by Greenberg. Allegations have also surfaced from anonymous sources claiming Gaetz showed people videos of naked women on his phone frequently.
The Department of Justice investigation is reportedly taking a close look at how Gaetz arranged the encounters with Greenberg’s help and whether they both slept with the same underage partners.
Zwick told the Post that the last time Ellicott met with investigators to discuss Gaetz was in the fall. Zwick says Ellicott has not yet provided testimony to a grand jury.
Scribd Content
Ellicot charges filed Jan. ... by Daily Kos
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