🚨 Shocking Revelations: Sheriff’s Deputies Turned Criminals in Crypto Extortion Case
In a startling turn of events, two deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have confessed to abusing their law enforcement powers, aiding a notorious crypto entrepreneur known as “The Godfather.” This shocking revelation not only highlights a significant breach of public trust but also underscores the growing intersection of law enforcement and cryptocurrency crime.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, David Anthony Rodriguez, 43, and Christopher Michael Cadman, 33, have admitted to conspiracy charges that violate civil rights. Their cooperation in a criminal scheme led by Adam Iza, a 24-year-old crypto businessman currently in federal custody since September 2024, paints a grim picture of corruption at multiple levels of law enforcement.
One Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy charged, another deputy pleads guilty to conspiring to violate civil rights while providing off-duty security for clients https://t.co/qIK0bzZOm6— US Attorney L.A. (@USAO_LosAngeles) July 14, 2025
đź’Ą Unmasking a Disturbing Pattern of Extortion
The deputies’ misdeeds did not occur in isolation. In August 2021, Cadman and an unnamed accomplice held a victim at gunpoint inside Iza’s opulent Bel Air mansion, demanding an immediate transfer of $25,000 to Iza’s bank account. As if this violence wasn’t enough, the victim later found himself arrested in a contrived traffic stop orchestrated by Cadman and other officers.
Rodriguez, on the other hand, took corruption to another level. In July 2022, he fraudulently obtained a search warrant by deceiving a judge about a supposed robbery investigation. Instead, he was on a quest to track down a victim for a private security client. This rogue action allowed his co-conspirators to bully and harass the victim with located coordinates.
The eerie nexus of this corruption scheme centers around Iza’s cryptocurrency platform, Zort. Prosecutors allege that this platform was leveraged to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars directly to corrupt law enforcement officers. In a stunning confession, Iza pleaded guilty in January to several charges, including conspiracy against rights and tax evasion, and now faces a hefty 35 years in prison come his sentencing on December 15.
🔫 A Web of Armed Extortion and Corruption
Iza’s illicit operations were not just a solo endeavor. They thrived on a network of dishonest deputies, where Cadman openly acknowledged receiving over $40,500 in unreported income from Iza, with an outstanding tax liability of about $11,000 for 2021. Adding to the complexity, another deputy named Eric Chase Saavedra has already pleaded guilty to similar charges and collaborated with Rodriguez in using falsified information to torment victims.
Source: Court Listener
Evidence disclosed in court documents revealed that Iza funneled as much as $280,000 monthly to deputies he referred to as his “pawns.” In a grim instance of coercion, he used police databases to intimidate a victim into surrendering a laptop full of cryptocurrency—backed by threatening messages featuring personal details and images of his family and car.
Intriguingly, one payment of $154,933 from Zort’s corporate account was made directly to an LAPD officer. Meanwhile, Iza’s former partner, Iris Ramaya Au, admitted to failing to report $2.6 million in illegal earnings from their nefarious activities, including establishing shell companies to facilitate the transfer of funds to law enforcement operatives.
📉 The Wider Implications of Crypto Crime
The chilling saga of this corruption case is only a fragment of a larger, federal initiative aimed at combating the surging tide of cryptocurrency-related crimes. In May 2025, authorities charged 12 individuals, primarily in their late teens and early twenties, for a racketeering conspiracy that raked in a staggering $263 million in stolen cryptocurrency through sophisticated laundering operations.
🔍 Dwayne Golden sentenced to 97 months for crypto Ponzi scheme defrauding investors of over $40 million. #CryptoFraud #Ponzi https://t.co/pHgoT0yzbu— Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) June 30, 2025
In a separate case, Dwayne Golden was sentenced to over eight years for orchestrating a massive $40 million Ponzi scheme involving multiple fraudulent crypto platforms.
đź”® What Lies Ahead for the Perpetrators?
As for Rodriguez, he now faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years at a court hearing scheduled for November 10. Cadman’s fate hangs in the balance, with a maximum of 13 years looming over him as he prepares for his own legal reckoning.
Meanwhile, Saavedra awaits sentencing after posting $50,000 bail. The ripple effects of this extraordinary case serve as a reminder that corruption does not just lurk in the shadows of cryptocurrency; it can extend into the very institutions meant to protect us.
đź”— Conclusion: A Call for Vigilance
This scandal is a stark reminder of the lengths to which some individuals will go for financial gain, even when it means compromising their integrity and duty. As cryptocurrency continues to evolve, we must remain vigilant and advocate for greater transparency and accountability within both the crypto space and law enforcement agencies. What are your thoughts on this unfolding story? Are we witnessing the tip of a larger iceberg? Join the conversation below!