Eric Chase Saavedra, a former LASD deputy, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to repay $90,984 after admitting he abused police authority while providing private security to Adam Iza. Saavedra pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and filing a false tax return and admitted fabricating warrants and misleading investigators, actions the LASD called a breach of public trust. He is the fifth ex‑deputy sentenced in the broader Iza investigation, which underscores how some crypto crimes blend digital schemes with traditional coercion.
Ex‑LASD Deputy Sentenced After Using Badge to Protect ‘Crypto Godfather’ — 21 Months, $90.9K Restitution
Who Is Eric Saavedra? Crypto Mafia Boss Adam Iza’s Corrupt Police Crook
Eric Chase Saavedra, 42, a former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy against rights and making and subscribing to a false tax return. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson also ordered Saavedra to repay $90,984 to the IRS for income he concealed while providing private security to Adam Iza.
Private Security for a Notorious Client
Saavedra founded Saavedra & Associates and contracted with Adam Iza — the self‑styled “Crypto Godfather” — to provide continuous close protection. Court records say Iza paid $100,000 per month for round‑the‑clock security from August 2021 through March 2022, then again beginning in July 2024 until Iza’s arrest in September 2024. Saavedra supplied at least two guards and occasionally worked shifts himself.
Abuse of Authority and Criminal Admissions
In his plea agreement, Saavedra admitted to abusing his departmental credentials to obtain private information about people connected to Iza. Prosecutors say he fabricated a search warrant to intimidate a target into paying for security and misled a narcotics detective, which triggered a drug raid on an extortion victim. He also falsely claimed a warrant was required to track a man’s cellphone — a misrepresentation that led armed individuals to attempt to enter the target’s home.
Officials’ Response: At sentencing Saavedra acknowledged betraying public trust. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department called his conduct a serious breach of departmental values, and prosecutors said the actions undermined confidence in lawful authority.
Broader Case and Context
Saavedra is the fifth former deputy sentenced in the wider federal investigation connected to Iza; earlier defendants included Michael Coberg, Scott Simpkins, David Rodriguez and Christopher Cadman. Prosecutors and observers note this case differs from ordinary financial fraud because sworn officers used badge access and official channels as a commercial service for a single private client.
Adam Iza is separately serving a 15‑year federal sentence tied to an attempted bitcoin robbery and kidnapping in Connecticut in August 2024, and he faces additional charges in the Central District of California, including conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion. While the proceedings are in different jurisdictions, both stem from conduct tied to Iza’s operations.
This case highlights a recurring theme in recent crypto‑crime investigations: traditional coercion — misuse of badges, fabricated warrants, and hired muscle — increasingly accompanies schemes involving digital assets. Saavedra’s sentence resolves the LASD component of the Iza matter; related prosecutions and Iza’s pending California sentencing remain active.
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