Federal authorities in California have uncovered a corruption ring involving several Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) deputies and a jailed crypto entrepreneur, Adam Iza.
Nicknamed “The Godfather,” 24-year-old Iza is the founder of Zort, a crypto trading platform that prosecutors say was used to funnel illicit funds to law enforcement officers.
Iza, who has been in federal custody since September 2024, pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion.
His firm allegedly served as the financial engine behind a broad conspiracy involving staged raids, armed confrontations, and the misuse of police powers to harass and intimidate rivals and victims.
Deputies Plead Guilty to Fake Raids and Armed Intimidation
Federal prosecutors confirmed that two deputies, David Anthony Rodriguez and Christopher Michael Cadman, have admitted to abusing their badges in service of off-duty private security work, with ties to Iza.
Rodriguez, a deputy from La Verne, pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights for obtaining a fake search warrant under false pretenses to gather GPS tracking data on a target for a private client.
Cadman, on the other hand, directly worked for Iza and participated in several disturbing incidents.
Notably, it included holding a victim at gunpoint inside Iza’s Bel Air mansion and orchestrating a fake traffic stop to intimidate the same individual.
These actions, prosecutors say, had no legal basis and were conducted purely for private gain.
Broader Conspiracy Unfolds with Third Deputy and Other Tactics
A third LASD deputy, Eric Chase Saavedra, was previously implicated and pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy against rights and filing a false tax return.
Saavedra, who also operated a private security company, collaborated with Rodriguez by using illicitly obtained GPS data to help intimidate victims.
Although not named in Monday’s court filing, Saavedra remains free on a $50,000 bond while awaiting sentencing.
The tactics used in this conspiracy ranged from fake raids to impersonating FBI agents, and appear to have formed part of a well-organized scheme to protect Iza’s interests and extort his rivals under the guise of law enforcement authority.
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Financial Trail Reveals Extensive Corruption and Fraud
According to the Department of Justice, Cadman received at least $40,500 in cash from Iza, which he failed to report, resulting in approximately $11,000 in unpaid federal taxes.
One previously disclosed payment amounted to $154,933 from Zort’s business account to an LAPD officer, underscoring the breadth of Iza’s reach into law enforcement.
Iza’s financial manipulations extended beyond payments to police, his ex-girlfriend, Iris Ramaya Au, agreed to plead guilty in March to failing to report $2.6 million in illegal income from Iza’s operations.
Authorities say the pair spent nearly $10 million on luxury items, while Iza obtained $16 million in cryptocurrency through fraudulent means.
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Sentencing Looms as Investigators Work to Unravel Full Scope
The fallout continues as sentencing dates approach.
Rodriguez, who played a central role in obtaining fraudulent warrants and leaking sensitive data, faces up to 10 years in federal prison when he appears before a judge on November 10.
Meanwhile, Saavedra’s sentencing date remains pending.
The case illustrates a disturbing abuse of police power, blending crypto-fueled corruption with systemic breaches of civil rights.
Prosecutors have signaled that further indictments may follow as the investigation into Iza’s sprawling criminal enterprise continues.
The scandal has cast a shadow over multiple law enforcement agencies, prompting renewed scrutiny of off-duty work and private security ties within police departments.
