Joel Greenberg likely to plead guilty Monday, could be key witness against Rep. Matt Gaetz

Former Florida tax collector Joel Greenberg, a key figure in the accusations surrounding U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, is expected to plead guilty Monday to a slew of federal charges against him.

A change of plea hearing has been set in Greenberg's case for Monday in an Orlando federal court, an indication that prosecutors and Greenberg have reached a plea deal in his case.

Greenberg is facing 33 federal charges, including sex trafficking, paying for sex with a 17-year-old girl, embezzlement of taxpayer money, identity theft and using his office to create fake IDs.

Report: Greenberg wrote 'confession' letter implicating Matt Gaetz paid for sex with minor

Trump makes statement: Trump makes first public statement on Gaetz scandal, says Gaetz never asked for pardon

Greenberg and Gaetz have been friends and political allies since at least 2017, and Greenberg has posted photos with Gaetz on his social media accounts.

Gaetz is also facing a Justice Department investigation over whether he had sex with a 17-year-old and paid for sex with other adult women.

Gaetz has vehemently denied the accusations, calling them lies and saying they are politically motivated.

Greenberg likely could be a key witness against Gaetz, though details on any pending plea deal have not been made public. A letter Greenberg wrote in late 2020 was leaked last month to The Daily Beast claiming Gaetz was involved with the same minor for whom Greenberg is now facing federal charges for sex trafficking.

Greenberg said both he and Gaetz were unaware the girl was 17 at the time and that when he told Gaetz about the girl's age after learning it, Gaetz was "equally shocked and disturbed by this revelation."

In April, Greenberg's attorneys and federal prosecutors told a federal judge that they were in the process of negotiating for a plea deal. The judge imposed a deadline of May 15 to reach a deal.

Speaking to members of the media after the April hearing, Greenberg's attorney Fritz Scheller was asked if Gaetz should be concerned about the deal.

"I'm sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today," Scheller said.

Greenberg's hearing is set to take place at 10 a.m. ET Monday.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.

This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Joel Greenberg likely to plead guilty. How it would impact Matt Gaetz