Florida
Prosecutors: Reduced sentence, prison time for Gaetz’s Central Florida friend
ORLANDO, Fla. – A former Florida tax collector whose arrest on intercourse trafficking and id theft expenses led to a probe of U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz ought to get his sentence decreased for cooperating with authorities, however he nonetheless deserves jail time to ship a message that no public official is above the legislation, federal prosecutors mentioned in court docket papers.
Former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg is going through a 12-year jail sentence when he’s sentenced in federal court docket in Orlando, Florida in two weeks. However he has been cooperating with federal brokers and has offered help in a number of probes, main prosecutors to ask for a decreased sentence. Nonetheless, no different causes needs to be thought of for every other downward departures, prosecutors mentioned in court docket papers filed this month.
The court docket filings from prosecutors did not specify what number of years in jail Greenberg’s sentence needs to be adjusted if his cooperation is a part of the calculation. Prosecutors mentioned it needs to be decreased by 10 ranges within the federal tips, which assigns a base offense degree for every kind of crime.
“It thus seems that the one factor that may be performed to guard the general public from Greenberg, and to discourage him from future felony conduct, is for him to stay in jail,” prosecutors mentioned in a sentencing memorandum filed this week. “This may serve to discourage Greenberg from future felony conduct, however may also ship a message to others, that public officers aren’t above the legislation.”
Greenberg is going through sentencing on six federal crimes, together with intercourse trafficking of a kid, id theft, stalking, wire fraud and conspiracy to bribe a public official. Prosecutors mentioned he had paid at the very least one underage lady to have intercourse with him and different males. Greenberg pleaded responsible to the fees final yr.
Greenberg’s cooperation might play a job within the ongoing probe into Gaetz, who’s being investigated over whether or not he paid a 17-year-old for intercourse. Gaetz has denied the allegations and beforehand mentioned they have been a part of an extortion plot. Gaetz, a Republican, represents a big a part of the Florida Panhandle. No expenses have been introduced in opposition to the congressman.
U.S. District Decide Gregory Presnell agreed to prosecutors’ request to seal court docket papers coping with an ongoing, unnamed investigation. The request was made “as a way to safeguard from public scrutiny sure delicate data relating to pending felony investigations which might come to mild have been the proceedings to turn into public information,” prosecutors mentioned.
The Greenberg plea settlement mentioned the previous tax collector admitted being “concerned in what are typically known as ‘sugar daddy’ relationships the place he paid ladies for intercourse, however tried to disguise the funds as ‘school-related’ bills or different residing bills.”
Greenberg has been linked to a lot of different Florida politicians and their associates. To this point, none of them has been implicated by title within the intercourse trafficking probe.
Greenberg lawyer Fritz Scheller mentioned in court docket papers this week that the decreased sentence request by prosecutors is inadequate provided that Greenberg’s cooperation has led to investigations or prosecutions of seven folks. Scheller requested the decide for a better discount of 16 ranges.
“At this level, his cooperation has led to a number of federal indictments and convictions, with extra to return,” Scheller mentioned.
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Comply with Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP
Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials might not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed with out permission.
Florida
No eggs? Shortage hits Florida Publix stores due to bird flu
You may have noticed eggs have been limited or hard to come by at the grocery store these days.
For Publix stores in Florida, a company spokesperson confirmed that they are experiencing egg shortages due to an outbreak of avian bird flu, or HPAI, which has created a rise in demand for eggs.
“As a result, items in this section have limited availability,” the spokesperson told NBC6. “We are working to bring these products back as soon as possible. We encourage customers to check back regularly, as our stores are receiving routine deliveries.”
HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, is a form of avian flu more associated with poultry and wild birds.
According to the USDA, outbreaks of HPAI and facility fires across multiple states in 2024 led to the loss of nearly 40 million egg-laying eggs. Farmers are unable to meet the demand.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 134 million wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard or hobbyist flocks have been affected by HPAI since 2022.
In Broward County, there have been six reported bird flu outbreaks since 2022, with the most recent one in 2023. In Miami-Dade, there have been eight reported outbreaks, with the most recent one reported in October.
Florida
Macy's is closing 66 stores in 2025, including these in South Florida
Macy’s is moving forward with its planned closures of stores in South Florida and across the country, the company announced Thursday.
Sixty-six locations were listed to close, most during the first quarter of 2025, though some had already been shut down.
In South Florida, the closures only affect the furniture stores at the following locations:
- 4501 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale
- 13640 Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines
- 13251 South Dixie Highway in Miami – already closed in 2024
But if you’re a faithful shopper, fear not. The company said these three furniture businesses are relocating to a nearby full-line location.
Additionally, these locations are closing or have already closed in Florida:
- 9339 Glades Road in Boca Raton – This furniture store already closed, and will relocate to a nearby full-line location.
- 801 North Congress Avenue Suite 100 in Boynton Beach at the Boynton Beach Mall
- 298 Westshore Plaza in Tampa at the WestShore Plaza
- 820 West Town Parkway in Altamonte Springs
- 3501 South Tamiami Trail Suite 600 in Sarasota
For that Altamonte Springs location, a going-out-of-business sale is planned for the first quarter of 2025.
In the announcement, Macy’s said the closures were part of their Bold New Chapter strategy.
“This plan is designed to return the company to sustainable, profitable sales growth which includes closing approximately 150 underproductive stores over a three-year period while investing in its 350 go-forward Macy’s locations through fiscal 2026,” their news release reads.
Go here to see the list of all 66 closing Macy’s locations.
Florida
SpaceX readies for next Starlink launch from Florida coast. Here’s when
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – SpaceX is readying for its next Starlink mission launch from Florida’s Space Coast on Friday morning.
In a release, the company announced that a Falcon 9 rocket will carry 21 more Starlink satellites into orbit from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
SpaceX officials said that liftoff is targeting 11:21 a.m., though backup opportunities will run until 2:15 p.m.
More opportunities will also be available on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. if needed.
The 45th Weather Squadron forecast shows that the chance of weather interfering with Friday’s launch attempt is less than 5%. However, that risk rises to 20% if pushed to this weekend.
Regardless, SpaceX reports that this is set to be the 25th flight for the first-stage booster used in this mission, which has previously been used to launch CRS-22, CRS-25, Crew-3, Crew-4, TelkomSat-113BT, Turksat-5B, Koreasat-6A, Eutelsat HOTBIRD-F2, Galileo L13, mPOWER-A, PSN MFS, and 13 other Starlink missions.
News 6 will stream the launch live at the top of this story when it happens.
Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
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