A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for lying to federal investigators about a 2021 extortion episode tied to cryptocurrency businessman Adam Iza. Prosecutors said the deputy witnessed Iza threaten a victim with live ammunition and demand $25,000, but later gave false statements to investigators.
The false-statements case
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the former deputy admitted misleading federal authorities about what happened during the 2021 incident. Prosecutors said he was present when Iza threatened the victim while displaying live ammunition before seeking a $25,000 payment. The court ultimately imposed an 18-month sentence for the deputy’s conduct.
The case adds to a broader set of federal prosecutions linked to Iza, whose legal troubles now span multiple jurisdictions and alleged crimes involving both extortion and violent conspiracy.
Iza’s California case
Federal prosecutors said Iza has remained in custody since September 2024. In California, he pleaded guilty in January 2025 to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. He has not yet been sentenced in that matter.
The article did not indicate when sentencing in California is expected, but noted that the federal cases against Iza have continued to advance while he remains detained.
Connecticut kidnapping conspiracy
In a separate federal prosecution in Connecticut, Iza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. That charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
Prosecutors said the Connecticut case stemmed from a 2024 kidnapping plot aimed at the parents of Veer Chetal, who was accused of taking part in the theft of roughly 4,100 bitcoin. Authorities alleged that Iza and his brother, Saif Faiq, organized the plan in an effort to extort cryptocurrency.
Faiq pleaded guilty in June. Prosecutors said he admitted recruiting six men from Florida, arranging their travel to Connecticut, and conducting surveillance ahead of an attack in Danbury. The group allegedly forced Sushil and Radhika Chetal from their vehicle, assaulted them, and held them for a short period. The six attackers later pleaded guilty to kidnapping- and carjacking-related offenses.
Related bitcoin theft case
Federal court records cited in the report show that Veer Chetal pleaded guilty in November 2025 to charges tied to the theft of about 4,100 bitcoin. He is also awaiting sentencing.
Taken together, the deputy’s prison term and the pending cases against Iza reflect how a local extortion incident has become part of a wider federal investigation touching law enforcement misconduct, alleged crypto-related coercion, and a separate interstate kidnapping conspiracy. Sentencing remains outstanding for several of the central figures.
Source: crypto.news