Two deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have admitted to abusing their law enforcement authority to assist private security clients—among them, a jailed crypto extortionist known as “The Godfather.”
David Anthony Rodriguez agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy against rights, while Christopher Michael Cadman admitted to both conspiracy against rights and filing a false tax return, according to the U.S. Department of Justice on Monday.
The DOJ revealed that while off-duty, the deputies used their official positions to support clients, including Adam Iza, the operator of the crypto platform Zort. Also known as Ahmed Faiq and “The Godfather,” Iza hired the deputies to help him carry out an extortion scheme.
Iza pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Prosecutors said he paid three deputies—Rodriguez, Cadman, and one other—to illegally obtain search warrants and access confidential police data, which they used to extort at least one victim out of cryptocurrency.
Deputy Cadman Helped Intimidate Victim at Gunpoint
Federal prosecutors say Deputy Christopher Michael Cadman was directly involved in threatening a victim connected to crypto extortionist Adam Iza’s scheme. In August 2021, Cadman and another deputy—identified only as “LASD Deputy 6”—confronted one of Iza’s adversaries at Iza’s Bel Air mansion.
During the encounter, Deputy 6 held the victim at gunpoint while Cadman assisted in the intimidation. In response to the threat, the victim immediately transferred approximately $25,000 from his bank account to Iza’s, according to the Department of Justice.
Victim Targeted Again in Coordinated Arrest
Just a month later, in September 2021, Cadman helped organize a traffic stop and the subsequent arrest of the same victim. Prosecutors said this action was carried out at Iza’s request, and Cadman admitted to coordinating the incident to support Iza’s extortion efforts.
In addition to the conspiracy charges, Cadman also failed to report at least $40,500 in income on his 2021 tax return. The DOJ revealed this was tied to the payments he received for his off-duty involvement in the extortion scheme.
Cadman now faces up to 13 years in federal prison. He is expected to appear in court in the coming days to formally respond to the charges.
Rodriguez Misused Search Warrants to Track Victim
Prosecutors revealed that former deputy David Anthony Rodriguez used his law enforcement powers to illegally track a victim on behalf of a private client. Though hired by Adam Iza as a private security guard, Rodriguez admitted in his plea agreement that he obtained a search warrant under false pretenses in July 2022.
He told a judge the warrant was part of a robbery investigation. In reality, his goal was to obtain the GPS location of a victim’s phone for a client unrelated to Iza.
After securing the phone’s location, Rodriguez shared the data with Eric Chase Saavedra, another deputy employed by Iza. Saavedra pleaded guilty earlier this year to conspiracy against rights and submitting a false tax return.
According to the Department of Justice, the deputies and their co-conspirators used the GPS data to harass, threaten, and intimidate the victim.
Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on November 10 and could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Meanwhile, Saavedra is currently out on a $50,000 bond and faces a maximum sentence of 13 years. The Justice Department stated that his sentencing is expected to take place in the coming months.
Iza Referred to Deputies as His “Pawns”
According to an FBI affidavit filed in Los Angeles federal court, Adam Iza—the crypto platform operator at the center of the extortion scheme—boasted about paying up to $280,000 per month to law enforcement officers. He reportedly referred to the deputies on his payroll as his “pawns.”
In one disturbing incident, the FBI said Iza used confidential police information to pressure a victim into handing over a laptop believed to contain cryptocurrency. The victim received threatening messages that included their personal data from law enforcement records, along with photos of their family and vehicle, clearly meant to intimidate.
Iza’s ex-girlfriend, Iris Ramaya Au, also agreed to plead guilty for submitting a false tax return. According to the Department of Justice, she failed to report more than $2.6 million in illicit funds she received through Iza’s criminal operations.
At Iza’s direction, Au allegedly created shell companies, opened bank accounts, and used those funds to:
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Pay nearly $1 million to LASD deputies
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Buy or lease luxury homes, cars, jewelry, and high-end fashion items
Before Iza entered his guilty plea, his attorney Josef Sadat claimed the charges did not reflect Iza’s true character. Sadat argued that Iza spent most of his life behind a computer and struggled to form healthy relationships. He further stated that Iza’s success in the crypto space attracted “the worst type of blood-sucking characters Southern California has to offer.”
Iza is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15. He faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in federal prison for conspiracy, wire fraud, and tax evasion.
