Florida man charged with attempting to defraud Rep. Matt Gaetz's family over sex-crimes investigatio

[Eugene]

Source: CNN

Florida man charged with attempting to defraud Rep. Matt Gaetz's family over sex-crimes investigation

By Paula Reid and Tierney Sneed, CNN
Updated 0216 GMT (1016 HKT) September 1, 2021

(CNN) — The Justice Department on Tuesday unveiled a grand jury indictment against a Florida man for his alleged role in a scheme to defraud the family of Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz out of $25 million.

Stephen Alford, 62, of Fort Walton Beach, faces charges including wire fraud, according to the Justice Department. The congressman is not identified by name in the indictment, but a source familiar with the matter says this case stems from a scheme targeting the Gaetz family.

CNN has reported that federal investigators are examining whether Gaetz broke federal sex trafficking, prostitution and public corruption laws and whether he had sex with a minor who was 17 at the time. CNN also has reported that the Justice Department is investigating potential obstruction of justice connected to the ongoing probe.

Gaetz has not been charged and denies any wrongdoing.

"Alford is alleged to have been involved in a scheme to obtain money based upon false promises or guarantees he made to the victim that Alford could deliver a Presidential Pardon for a family member of the victim," the Justice Department said in a statement.

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Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/31/politics/florida-man-charges-gaetz-family-fraud-scheme/index.html

[Turbineguy]

1. Nobody likes a blackmailer.

Well, maybe a little.