Crypto ‘Godfather’ Adam Iza sentenced to 78 months
Adam Iza, known as the “Crypto Godfather,” was sentenced to 78 months in prison for defrauding Meta, evading taxes and using sheriff’s deputies against rivals.
A federal judge sentenced Adam Iza, 26, to 78 months in prison on Oct. 5 for hiring Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies to target people involved in his financial disputes, defrauding Meta Platforms and evading taxes.
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson also ordered Iza to pay $23.4 million in restitution. Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion.
From August 2021 through April 2022, Iza paid off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies for personal security and worked with them to obtain confidential law enforcement information and court-authorized search warrants. Prosecutors alleged that he used databases, investigative tools, arrests, badges and firearms to intimidate rivals.
Five former deputies who worked for Iza have been convicted of federal crimes. Eric Chase Saavedra, who helped obtain search warrants, received a 21-month prison sentence.
In a separate scheme, Iza fraudulently accessed Meta business manager accounts and their lines of credit from December 2020 through September 2024. He sold access to advertising companies and received about $37 million, according to prosecutors.
Iza failed to file corporate tax returns, causing an estimated $13.3 million loss to the Internal Revenue Service. He admitted receiving at least $36.36 million in gross income from 2020 through 2023 and concealing his ownership of Zort, his company. Prosecutors alleged that he transferred corporate income to cryptocurrency custodians.
Iza has been in federal custody since September 2024. His 78-month sentence will run concurrently with a 15-year sentence imposed last month in Connecticut for an attempted Bitcoin robbery.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
The material on GNcrypto is intended solely for informational use and must not be regarded as financial advice. We make every effort to keep the content accurate and current, but we cannot warrant its precision, completeness, or reliability. GNcrypto does not take responsibility for any mistakes, omissions, or financial losses resulting from reliance on this information. Any actions you take based on this content are done at your own risk. Always conduct independent research and seek guidance from a qualified specialist. For further details, please review our Terms, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers.
Articles by this author
