A Florida man who pleaded responsible final 12 months to attempting to extort cash from Florida GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz’s father was sentenced Monday to simply over 5 years in jail.
Stephen Alford admitted to scheming to get tens of millions out of former Florida state Senate President Don Gaetz through a collection of letters.
Alford tried to persuade the elder Gaetz that he had a reference to President Biden and would use it to assist Matt Gaetz resolve an ongoing sex-trafficking probe involving the lawmaker.
In change, Alford requested for $25 million he claimed he wanted to free American Robert Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in 2007 whereas on an unauthorized CIA mission in Iran. Levinson’s household introduced in March 2020 that they believed he had died whereas in Iranian authorities custody.
The plot was found when Don Gaetz reported messages from Alford to federal investigators.
Alford was recorded admitting to attempting to extort Gaetz and acknowledged having no such connection to Biden.
Matt Gaetz has but to be charged with any crime in reference to the sex-trafficking investigation, which stems from a probe of Seminole County tax collector Joel Greenberg, a former affiliate.
Greenberg pleaded responsible in Could 2021 to a number of offenses, together with paying for intercourse with a 17-year-old lady to whom Gaetz was linked.
Gaetz has constantly denied any wrongdoing.
A spokesperson for the congressman didn’t reply to The Publish’s request for touch upon Alford’s sentencing.
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