Orlando, Florida (AP) —Joel Greenberg, a friend of U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz, who pleaded guilty to sexual trafficking earlier this year, told judges on Tuesday to continue working with federal authorities. Asked him to postpone the decision until next year.

Greenberg has requested a federal judge to change the judgment date from mid-November to March next year in a court motion.

The extra time will give former local tax collectors from the suburbs of Orlando more time to sit down for an interview with a federal agent, Filing said.

“Sure, Mr Greenberg’s continued cooperation that doesn’t complete before the current decision date could affect his final decision,” the court said the extension was not opposed by federal prosecutors. According to the submitted documents.

Greenberg faced up to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to six federal crimes last May, including sexual trafficking of children, spoofing, stalking, transfer fraud, and bribery of civil servants. I am.

Judicial transactions with Greenberg’s prosecutors require ongoing cooperation with ongoing investigations into sexual trafficking.

Gates, a Republican who represents most of the Florida Panhandle, wasn’t mentioned in Greenberg’s judicial deal. However, Greenberg’s cooperation could play a role in an ongoing investigation into whether Gates paid for sex to a 17-year-old girl. Gates denied the claim and stated that it was previously part of a blackmail program.

Meanwhile, in Pensacola, a man accused of organizing a blackmail program related to Gates’ federal investigation pleaded not guilty in federal court on Friday. The trial of Stephen Alford, 62, is currently scheduled for December 6.

Authorities said Alford was part of a plan to receive $ 25 million from a person identified as “DG” in court records.Instead, Alford will either get an amnesty from then-President Donald Trump as a member of the family, or stop the family investigation to the Justice Department and fund the release of someone identified as “RL.”

Matt Gaetz’s father is Don Gaetz, a former president of the Florida Senate. Others approaching Don Gates have said in news reports that they want to release Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in Iran more than a decade ago.

Alford’s lawyer did not immediately return a voice email asking for comment. According to court records, Alford had previously been convicted of fraud and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in a 2006 sentence.