A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy will spend nearly two years behind bars after admitting he weaponized his law enforcement authority to serve a self-styled cryptocurrency mogul known as the Godfather. Eric Saavedra, 42, was sentenced Monday for leading a conspiracy that involved recruiting dozens of fellow deputies to act as private security and hired muscle for Adam Iza. Through his company, Saavedra & Associates, the former detective pocketed massive sums while facilitating a campaign of intimidation and abuse against Iza’s enemies.
The scale of the corruption was staggering, with Saavedra allegedly recruiting between 20 and 25 active deputies to provide round-the-clock protection for Iza, often earning roughly 100,000 dollars a month. Beyond simple bodyguard duties, Saavedra confessed to utilizing sensitive police databases to dox individuals and creating fraudulent search warrants to coerce victims into paying for security services. In one particularly chilling instance, Saavedra lied to secure a cell phone tracking warrant under the guise of a firearms investigation, then handed the victim’s location over to Iza, which culminated in three armed men attempting to storm the person’s home.
During the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson described the scheme as something that compromised both the integrity of the judiciary and the sheriff’s department. While Saavedra expressed remorse and apologized for abusing the trust associated with his badge, the court held him accountable not just for his actions but for his financial gains. Along with his prison term and nearly 100,000 dollars in restitution to the IRS, Saavedra must forfeit a lavish collection of luxury goods bought with conspiracy funds, including dozens of Louis Vuitton bags and Gucci shoes.
The fallout from this scandal has touched numerous members of law enforcement, as Saavedra is the final deputy in this specific ring to be sentenced following others who received terms ranging from one to five years. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department released a stinging statement calling the behavior a serious betrayal of the oath to serve and protect. Meanwhile, Adam Iza remains entangled in legal battles across state lines, currently serving time for kidnapping and attempted robbery in Connecticut while awaiting further sentencing in California on counts of wire fraud and tax evasion.
