Things Keep Getting Worse For Matt Gaetz

Shock Jock Friend Pleads Guilty With A Cooperating Plea Agreement

In the nine days since I last wrote about the legal troubles of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl), things have gotten even worse for him. On January 18 (but reported yesterday), Rep. Gaetz’s friend - Joe Ellicot - entered a guilty plea to federal charges of wire fraud and drug trafficking. Ellicot, a radio “shock jock” who goes by the name “Big Joe”, admitted that he committed wire fraud by conspiring to pay a bribe to Rep. Gaetz’s friend, former Seminole County Tax Assessor Joel Greenberg.

Making things much worse for Rep. Gaetz, Joe Ellicot entered his guilty plea pursuant to a cooperating plea agreement. Under that plea agreement, Mr. Ellicot is required to “cooperate fully with the United States in the investigation and prosecution of other persons” in order to be eligible for a sentence reduction.

Ellicot’s lawyer informed the press that Ellicot “has been cooperating in the sex trafficking case against Gaetz.”

Under his cooperating plea agreement, Ellicot can only get a recommendation from the US Attorney’s Office for a sentence below the range called for by the Sentencing Guidelines if the US Attorney’s Office is satisfied that Ellicot has provided full and truthful information about any criminal activity under investigation. If Ellicot were to waver or equivocate in his testimony, he would lose the benefit of his cooperation. In short, Ellicot will be strongly motivated to assist federal prosecutors.

Ellicot seems likely to have significant damaging testimony against Rep. Gaetz. Ellicot was a groomsman at Greenberg’s wedding. The two reportedly exchanged text messages (that were supposed to disappear, except Greenberg took screen shots), in which they discussed the fact that the girls that they (including Rep. Gaetz) were having sex with were (a) underage and (b) getting paid. Ellicot reportedly went so far as to “express concern over a certain woman turning state’s evidence.”

Perhaps the most damaging evidence that Ellicot could provide against Rep. Gaetz is that Ellicot reportedly was present when Greenberg and Gaetz discussed the fact that the girl that Gaetz had been having sex with was only 17 years old. “A teenager both men had paid to have sex with was underage, Greenberg claimed. Now, two sources tell The Daily Beast, a cooperating witness [Ellicot] can confirm details of that call for one damning reason: He was in Greenberg’s office when the call took place.”

This makes at least three witnesses that federal investigators have lined up against Rep. Gaetz: (1) Ellicot, (2) Greenberg and (3) the then-17 year old girl (who was granted immunity).

I do not know if Rep. Gaetz will be indicted. If he is indicted, I do not know whether Rep. Gaetz would be convicted. I do know that he is looking at a highly skilled and experienced team of prosecutors who have arrayed a series of cooperating witness that would testify that Rep. Gaetz engaged in criminal sex trafficking.

It is not a good time to be Matt Gaetz.