A deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department pleaded guilty on Monday, and another has agreed to plead guilty, to federal charges related to using their law enforcement status for their side job providing private security and illegal enforcement services for a cryptocurrency businessman who is now behind bars, among others.
LASD deputies David Anthony Rodriguez, a 43-year-old from La Verne who pleaded guilty, and Christopher Michael Cadman, a 33-year-old from Fullerton who agreed to plead guilty, used to work for crypto-businessman Adam Iza, 24, who lived in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach, as personal bodyguards and/or advisors, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.
The two were hired through another LASD deputy, 42-year-old Eric Chase Saavedra of Chino, or through his private-security company that often employed active duty LASD deputies and other law enforcement officers, according to court records.
Earlier in the year Saavedra agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy and tax crimes.
In August 2021, Cadman and another law enforcement officer identified in court records as “LASD Deputy 6” intimidated and threatened one of Iza’s adversaries, according to the DOJ news release.
During a meeting at Iza’s office inside his Bel Air mansion, the unnamed LASD deputy held the victim at gunpoint, according to the news release.
In response, the victim sent about $25,000 from his bank account to Iza’s.
A month later, Cadman and other law enforcement officers pulled over and arrested the same victim in Paramount. In his plea agreement, Cadman admitted to assisting in the traffic stop and arrest for Iza. He also admitted to receiving cash payments while working for the crypto-businessman.
Cadman failed to report at least $40,500 on his 2021 federal tax return, which he signed and filed with the IRS in February 2022, according to court records. He admitted to owing about $11,000 in federal taxes that year.
Rodriguez admitted to lying to a judge to receive a court-authorized search warrant in order to obtain GPS location information associated with another victim’s cellphone for another client, other than Iza, according to the news release. Once Rodriguez obtained the GPS information, he shared the location with fellow conspirators, including Saavedra.
Saavedra is out on a $50,000 bond, and is expected to be sentenced in the coming months.
Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against rights. Cadman agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy against rights and subscribing to a false tax return.
Cadman faces up to 13 years in prison and Rodriguez up to 10 years.
Iza has been in federal custody since September 2024. In January, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion.