Gaetz, Fiancee Say Money They Paid for a Yacht Went ‘Missing’

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Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) is saying that he and his fiancée, Ginger Luckey, lost up to $155,000 that “went missing” during a deal to buy a yacht.

A spokesperson for the congressman said in a statement the two were “targeted by malicious actors” when they attempted to purchase a 41-foot boat named “Ol Pappy” in St. Petersburg, Florida, listed at $155,000. His office declined to say how much was paid, or to provide details of the transaction, but said federal law enforcement was “aware of and actively pursuing” the case. His statement also claimed that while Luckey was the purchaser, both “Rep. Gaetz and Ms. Luckey were the target of a financial crime.”

The boat was listed for sale on numerous websites that have removed it since the the transaction allegedly fell through in April, though some archived copies of the listing remain. Witnesses say the boat’s name was removed and replaced with “Thirsty” in late April. Records also indicate the boat’s port of entry changed from St. Petersburg to Niceville, Florida, nearly 450 miles to the north, where Gaetz attended high school.

Brett Harris, the owner of Edwards Yacht Sales, the company that brokered the sale, corroborated one aspect of Gaetz’s story, telling WFLA the boat’s owner closed a deal with another buyer on this past Friday.

Gaetz is the subject of a federal investigation — opened last year but just revealed in March — related to allegations of sex trafficking. An associate of Gaetz’s, former Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg, took a plea agreement this month on six federal charges that included sex trafficking of a child and wire fraud.