A Florida woman who worked in the federal Small Business Administration has been charged with bribery as part of an alleged scheme she struck with Joel Greenberg, the former county tax officer and friend of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who is currently serving a prison term for sex trafficking, reported the Orlando Sentinel.
According to federal prosecutors, wrote Martin E. Comas, Angela Chew "helped convicted Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg and one of his associates submit and process fraudulent federal loan applications meant to help small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. In return, [Chew], who worked as a loan specialist for the federal Small Business Administration, received $3,000 in kickbacks from Greenberg in mid-2020 — just weeks after he resigned from public office, according to the grand jury indictment released Nov. 8."
"As an SBA employee, Chew was considered a public official and charged with taking a bribe on behalf of herself, according to the court document," the report continued.
Chew faces 11 charges that could come with a maximum of 15 years in prison if she is convicted on all counts.
Greenberg pleaded guilty in 2021 to sex trafficking of a child, production of a false document, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, stalking and conspiracy to commit an offense against the U.S. — as part of a federal investigation that looked into his escapades with Gaetz. The two of them allegedly shared suspicious Venmo payments, and prosecutors investigated whether Gaetz participated in a scheme to traffic an underage girl across state lines.
Gaetz, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, was ultimately not charged with any offense himself but wasn't exonerated by the Justice Department. Gaetz asked for a pre-emptive pardon from then chief of staff Mark Meadows for the sex trafficking scandal, the Washington Post claimed. The House Ethics Committee is still investigating Gaetz, however. Greenberg is now serving an 11-year prison sentence.
