The Alford indictment says that Alford met with the wired Don Gaetz to let him know the original $25 million to free Levinson had been negotiated down to $15.5 million and that $5.5 million was needed "up front" to secure the deal. He has not been implicated in the charges filed against Alford, although references are made in the indictment to an "Attorney A" who it states met with Don Gaetz at least once to discuss the Levinson arrangement.Īlso of interest: Where’s Matt Gaetz? Not in his district ‘He’s everywhere but here’ McGee has worked as Alford's defense attorney in at least two criminal cases, including one for which he was sentenced to 10 years in 2006. Jeff Nieman, his attorney, did not return a phone call seeking comment. 31 said he and a group of co-conspirators had dangled the presidential pardon for Matt Gaetz as a trade to Don Gaetz in exchange for him providing them the funds they needed to buy Levinson's freedom.Īccording to a version of events provided first by Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola attorney David McGee had been among those working with Alford to extort the $25 million from the Gaetz family, and Don Gaetz had worn an FBI wire to a meeting with Alford to discuss a $5.5 million down payment.ĭon Gaetz had no comment on Alford's plea. The federal authorities who arrested Alford on Aug. Efforts to reach him Monday were not successful.Īlso figuring into the narrative surrounding the charges against Alford is Robert Levinson, a CIA operative who disappeared in 2007 and is believed to have been kidnapped by agents of the government of Iran.Īlford's version of events: Stephen Alford says he was questioned by FBI regarding Matt Gaetz extortion charge No criminal charges have been filed against the younger Gaetz, and he has steadfastly and vehemently maintained his innocence. One of the charges he pleaded to was that of sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. Greenberg pleaded guilty in May to numerous crimes as part of a plea deal to cooperate with prosecutors, presumably in its ongoing investigation of Gaetz. The alleged extortion attempt occurred in March, eight months after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving Joel Greenberg, the former Seminole County tax collector and a Matt Gaetz associate. Matt Gaetz being investigated for obstruction of justice, new reports allege It involves a scheme to extort $25 million from former Florida Senate President Don Gaetz with the promise of a presidential pardon for Gaetz's son, Matt, a self-styled congressional "firebrand" under investigation in a sex trafficking case. It will mark the third time since March 2006 that Alford will face prison time for a felony involving an effort to swindle big money from wealthy individuals or entities.Īs intriguing as some of Alford's past plots have been, this one may top them all.
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