About Joel Greenberg: The Man. The Scandal. The Players.
In 2016, few knew much about the 31-year-old man who just scored an upset victory to win public office in Seminole County. A constant stream of odd news and controversies began almost as soon as he started the job. Still, he became a rising star in local Republican politics and accumulated powerful friends. And now Greenberg faces a staggering 33 federal charges. And the outcome of this case threatens to ensnare some of Greenberg's closest allies, including congressman Matt Gaetz. From the Orlando Sentinel, this is the story of Joel Greenberg: the man, the scandal and the players.
Eleven years in federal prison. That’s the punishment U.S. District Judge Gregory Presnell gave Joel Greenberg, Seminole County’s former tax collector, for carrying out a staggeringly broad crime spree that the judge described as having “no precedent.” Though the judge suggested he felt the sentence was perhaps too lenient, it was at the top end of federal guidelines, factoring in the credit that government prosecutors gave Greenberg for his cooperation in their investigations into his former friends and allies.
11 years in prison (:00)
Is this the end? (3:45)
Greenberg atones (5:10)
‘The most horrendous of all’ crimes (12:03)
23 Nov 2022
Joel Greenberg, cooperating witness | Ep. 9
In meetings with investigators, Joel Greenberg described widespread corruption in Central Florida politics. Lucrative jobs and contracts doled out as political favors. Cash handoffs to avoid detection. Developers pulling the strings of public officials. And a who’s-who of local politicians and influential figures who benefitted. In this podcast you hear Greenberg, in his own words, liken the Seminole County political scene to organized crime. Seminole County’s disgraced former tax collector is slated to be sentenced on Dec. 1. Greenberg will find out then if the assistance he has provided will reduce the amount of time he spends in prison.
'A little mafia' (:00)
Ghost candidate scheme (5:04)
Naming names (10:37)
Sentencing possibilities (16:51)
28 Dec 2021
'A difficult path' | Ep. 8
In this episode of Joel Greenberg: The Man, The Scandal, The Players, we’re going to bring you up to speed on recent developments in the investigation and the efforts to make Greenberg’s victims whole, and also look ahead to the new year, which has the potential to be a very eventful one.
One final delay (3:32)
Matt Gaetz’s regrets (6:48)
Abby Greenberg files for divorce (9:36)
Restitution for Seminole County (14:04)
In the crosshairs (16:52)
2 Jul 2021
Dirty tricks | Ep. 7
This episode of Joel Greenberg, The Man, The Scandal, The Players, focuses on elaborate schemes to intimidate and destroy the reputations of Save Rural Seminole leaders using bogus social media accounts and anonymous letters.
Save Rural Seminole (:00)
Jacob Engels emails Trinity Prep (5:41)
Smear letters arrive (8:52)
Attorney intervenes (12:45)
Engels and Roger Stone (18:58)
MAGA Advisory Services (25:17)
Brian Beute urges action (28:13)
4 Jun 2021
Matt Gaetz and Florida's ‘green rush’ | Ep. 6
This episode of Joel Greenberg, The Man, The Scandal, The Players, focuses on the connections between Congressman Matt Gaetz and other key figures in Florida's medical marijuana industry.
2014 law launches Florida’s marijuana industry (:00)
Last-minute tweaks to Charlotte’s Web law (4:13)
Nurseries, Investors, lobbyists eye 5 licenses (7:51)
Orlando-based doctor enters ‘green rush” (10:43)
Marijuana opinions shift: Amendment 2 passes (13:12)
Gaetz’s ties to Ron DeSantis (15:56)
Access to key players vital (18:27)
21 May 2021
Joel Greenberg's Plea Deal | Ep. 5
In this episode of Joel Greenberg: The Man, The Scandal, The Players, we take a deep dive into Greenberg’s plea deal and discuss the deal’s implications for U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz and others.
Greenberg’s lawyer speaks (:00)
The plea deal (3:29)
$70,000 for sex over 2 years (6:34)
Sex with 17-year-old (8:16)
Identity theft (11:13)
Cryptocurrency scam (13:27)
Fraudulent COVID-19 loans (18:21)
What’s next for Matt Gaetz? (21:05)
14 May 2021
Power players | Ep. 4
Before his downfall, Joel Greenberg relished accumulating friendships with powerful and well-connected people. Episode 4 of Joel Greenberg: The Man, The Scandal, The Players delves into this network of power brokers, many of whom wound up at various times on the payroll of the tax collector’s office.
Chris Dorworth (:00)
Mike Ertel (7:40)
Matt Morgan (8:22)
Anthony Sabatini (10:49)
Eric Foglesong (12:15)
Frank Artiles (14:35)
Jason Pirozzolo (16:18)
Halsey Beshears (18:07)
Chris Anderson (20:35)
29 Apr 2021
The rise and fall of Joel Greenberg | Ep. 3
Before Joel Greenberg was a central figure in a national political scandal involving Congressman Matt Gaetz, he was a font of local controversies — a disruptor, a lightning rod, a rising star, and a cautionary tale.
Troubled youth (3:01)
The 2016 election victory (5:46)
Butting heads with elected officials (8:32)
Greenberg’s “cowboy manner” (12:53)
The bombshell drops (17:53)
Malware scheme (22:30)
Greenberg’s charming side (23:37)
23 Apr 2021
Matt Gaetz and Joel Greenberg: A political friendship | Ep. 2
At one time, Congressman Matt Gaetz considered Joel Greenberg his wingman. Now, Greenberg is a pariah, and their friendship, for Gaetz, is a liability. Greenberg, the former Seminole County tax collector, faces a slew of federal charges — 33, as the case now stands — and is slated to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors by May 15.
Matt Gaetz: A child of political royalty (3:09)
Sex game rumor (4:37)
“Revenge porn” opposition (5:53)
Going full MAGA (7:33)
Joel Greenberg and powerful people (10:50)
The dark side to Gaetz-Greenberg friendship (14:33)
Who is Jason Pirozzolo? (17:54)
Pirozzolo’s role in Florida’s medical marijuana gold rush (20:29)
Prozzolo's political influence (23:20)
16 Apr 2021
Joel Greenberg: The Man. The Scandal. The Players. (TRAILER)
In 2016, few knew much about the 31-year-old man who’d just scored an upset victory to win public office in Seminole County. A constant stream of odd news and controversies began almost as soon as Joel Greenberg started the job. Still, he became a rising star in local Republican politics – and accumulated powerful friends. And now Greenberg faces a staggering 33 federal charges. And the outcome of this case threatens to ensnare some of Greenberg’s closest allies, including Congressman Matt Gaetz.
15 Apr 2021
The criminal case against Joel Greenberg | 1
In 2016, few knew much about the 31-year-old man who’d just scored an upset victory to win public office in Seminole County. A constant stream of odd news and controversies began almost as soon as he started the job. Still, he became a rising star in local Republican politics – and accumulated powerful friends. And now Greenberg faces a staggering 33 federal charges. And the outcome of this case threatens to ensnare some of Greenberg’s closest allies, including Congressman Matt Gaetz.
In this episode of Joel Greenberg: The Man, The Scandal, The Players, we start by diving into the criminal case against Greenberg, the potential penalties he faced if he’d gone to trial and what exactly he’s accused of — as well as whether he could have faced justice any sooner.
What launched the criminal investigation (2:32)
From fake IDs to sex trafficking (7:05)
CARES Act loans (8:58)
Bitcoin operation: Innovative or criminal? (11:12)
Greenberg’s early brushes with the law (15:36)
From local to national story (19:55)
Reach and audience
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Apple Podcasts (US)
4.9 / 5
90 ratings
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