Two Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies admitted to using their law enforcement powers to help a jailed crypto extortion mogul known as ‘The Godfather.’ The duo exploited their positions to intimidate and extort victims on behalf of the crypto criminal.
David Anthony Rodriguez pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights, while Christopher Michael Cadman admitted to conspiring and filing a false tax return. The Justice Department revealed their corrupt acts.
How did LA deputies aid the crypto extortion scheme?
The deputies acted as private security for Adam Iza, operator of the crypto platform Zort, who is also dubbed ‘The Godfather.’ They unlawfully accessed police databases and executed search warrants to intimidate victims.
Notably, Cadman helped threaten a victim at gunpoint in Iza’s Bel Air mansion, forcing him to transfer $25,000. Later, Cadman assisted in orchestrating a traffic stop and arrest targeting the same victim.
Did you know?
Did you know that Adam Iza, known as ‘The Godfather,’ paid deputies up to $280,000 a month to assist with his crypto extortion activities?
What crimes have the deputies admitted to?
Rodriguez admitted to lying to a judge to obtain a GPS tracking warrant falsely linked to a robbery, while Cadman failed to report over $40,000 in income on his tax return. Such abuses highlight bribery and conspiracy to violate constitutional rights.
ALSO READ | UAE’s Zero-Tax Crypto Policy Is Creating a New Class of Millionaires
The role of ‘The Godfather’ in the crypto extortion ring
Adam Iza pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. He allegedly paid up to $280,000 monthly to deputies, whom he called his “pawns,” to manipulate law enforcement power and extort crypto-related victims.
His ex-girlfriend also pled guilty to failing to report millions in illicit gains, further exposing the large-scale nature of the scheme.
Consequences faced by corrupt deputies and their clients
Cadman faces up to 13 years in prison, with sentencing imminent. Rodriguez faces up to 10 years, with sentencing scheduled for November. Iza is slated for a 35-year sentence in December.
This case starkly exposes how corrupted law enforcement can enable crypto crimes, highlighting the urgency for stronger oversight and accountability in policing crypto-related activities.
The fallout will likely prompt intensified federal scrutiny on crypto crime and the complicity of insiders within law enforcement.
Comments (0)
Please sign in to leave a comment