:strip_exif(true):strip_icc(true):no_upscale(true):quality(65)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gmg/MUDYUVDF65DAVBY7JTDWXB2I2Q.jpg "Former Seminole County tax collector awaiting federal trial jailed for title violation")
ORLANDO, Fla. – Former Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg was arrested on Tuesday after prosecutors said he violated the terms of his bail release by traveling to Jupiter.
Greenberg is awaiting the start of his federal trial this spring on federal charges of harassment, illegal use of means to identify another person, production of false identification and identification documents, aggravated identity theft, child sex trafficking and violation of the law of Driver’s Privacy Protection.
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A public relations specialist from the US Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed by email that Greenberg was arrested Tuesday night for violating a title.
Greenberg appeared before a judge at 2:30 pm on Wednesday about the violation of titles. Prosecutors said he violated his pre-trial release by traveling to Jupiter on Sunday and being out of his curfew, which is from 8 pm to 6 pm.
His ankle monitor alerted the authorities and Greenberg contacted the Jupiter police, according to prosecutors.
His lawyer, Fritz Scheller, said he was in the area for family reasons. Greenberg wanted to address the court, but Scheller did not allow it.
“I will not go into the content of the allegations. You know, we stipulate for them. They were technical violations. It is a difficult process, obviously, to be on the curfew. It looks relatively easy, but it isn’t, ”said Scheller.
On Friday, both sides agreed to ease restrictions on Greenberg’s securities, but the reason is unclear as the court’s records are sealed.
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Greenberg, 35, served as a tax collector for Seminole County from January 2017 until June 24, 2020, when he left office after his indictment.
An audit of Greenberg’s years in office found that he spent millions of taxpayer dollars on purchases, including bulletproof vests and a sprinkler system for petitioners.
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Greenberg is accused of harassing his political opponent by creating fake social media accounts and spreading a false rumor that his opponent sexually abused a student, using lost driver’s license information to make false identities with his photo, trying to create concealed weapon licenses and using false identities for individuals with whom he was involved in “daddy relationships” so that they could “get involved in commercial sex acts” despite being minors.
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He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The trial was scheduled for March, but Greenberg recently hired a new lawyer, which could delay the process again.
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