Adam Iza sentenced to 78 months in LASD corruption case
LOS ANGELES — Adam Iza was sentenced Oct. 5 to 78 months in federal prison for a scheme that used corrupt off-duty sheriff’s deputies against his adversaries, alongside wire fraud and tax evasion offenses, federal prosecutors announced.
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson ordered Iza, 26, to pay $23,402,766 in restitution. Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The six-and-a-half-year term will run concurrently with a 15-year sentence imposed in Connecticut in September. Iza has been in federal custody since September 2024.
The Los Angeles case describes public law enforcement powers being used to advance private financial and personal disputes. Five former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies employed by Iza stand convicted of federal crimes. Their conduct included improper searches, intimidation, a sham arrest and obstruction of the federal investigation.
Private security became access to police powers
The Sept. 28 sentencing announcement for Eric Chase Saavedra explains how Iza’s security arrangement operated. Saavedra’s company provided round-the-clock protection at a typical cost of $100,000 a month from August 2021 to March 2022 and again in 2024 before Iza’s arrest.
Saavedra used his department credentials to obtain information from law enforcement databases about people involved in Iza’s disputes, their associates and their families, despite knowing he was not authorized to access it for a private client. He also improperly obtained search warrants, according to his admissions described by prosecutors.
Saavedra received 21 months in prison and a $90,984 restitution order. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and filing a false tax return, including concealing more than $373,000 in income from Iza. The case concerns misuse of official access, rather than private security work alone.
Former deputy and helicopter pilot Michael David Coberg received a 63-month sentence in March after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy against rights. Prosecutors said Iza paid him at least $20,000 a month.
In one episode, Coberg stood watch while Iza demanded a victim transfer $127,000 to an account Iza controlled. Coberg identified himself as an active law enforcement officer and questioned the victim about a business dispute, according to the federal account. Anderson ordered Coberg to pay $127,000 in restitution.
Coberg also helped arrange a false drug-possession arrest in Paramount in 2021. Prosecutors said he gave a fellow deputy false information to trigger a traffic stop. Iza watched the arrest from another vehicle and later sent the victim photographs of the arrest and booking.
Former deputy lied to investigators
Scott Allen Simpkins, was sentenced in July to 18 months for obstruction. His case involved Iza’s extortion of $25,000 from a party planner at a Bel Air mansion. Prosecutors said Simpkins and another deputy escorted the planner into Iza’s office, where Iza displayed ammunition while demanding money. Simpkins later falsely told federal investigators that he had seen no ammunition or financial transaction. He admitted the lies interfered with the investigation.
Iza’s fraud scheme generated more than $37 million through compromised Meta advertising accounts and associated credit lines, according to the October sentencing announcement. Access was sold to advertisers, leaving Meta clients billed for advertising they had not authorized.
Iza’s separate Connecticut conviction concerned an August 2024 attempt to steal Bitcoin that led to the carjacking and kidnapping of a couple in Danbury. Prosecutors said Iza helped finance and coordinate the scheme. He pleaded guilty to a robbery conspiracy in June and received the 15-year sentence Sept. 9.
