LA Deputy Sentenced for Aiding Crypto 'Godfather' Adam Iza

A former Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for his role in helping cryptocurrency figure Adam Iza. Eric Chase Saavedra, who once carried a detective's shield in the LASD anti-gang unit and worked with the U.S. Marshals Service, founded a security firm that staffed shifts with active deputies. The company became Iza's marquee client, paying $100,000 a month for round-the-clock guards from August 2021 to March 2022 and again from July 2024 until his arrest in September.

Saavedra used his LASD credentials to pull personal data from law enforcement databases, targeting people Iza had feuds with. In one episode, Saavedra applied for a search warrant that produced a location, which he passed on to Iza. The cryptocurrency businessman then sent armed men to break into the home and take a laptop allegedly containing over $100 million in cryptocurrency.

Saavedra pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and admitted to pocketing around $373,146 from Iza that was never reported. He forfeited 32 Louis Vuitton bags, 27 pairs of Gucci shoes, and other items as part of the deal. Saavedra's cooperation earned him a lighter sentence.