LOS ANGELES — A former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy has been sentenced to one year in federal prison after admitting he submitted a false search warrant affidavit to obtain GPS location data from a man’s cell phone on behalf of a wealthy private client involved in a contentious divorce.
David Anthony Rodriguez, 45, of La Verne, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson to 12 months in federal prison after pleading guilty in July 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights. Rodriguez resigned from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in October 2025.
Fact Checklist
- ✅ Defendant: David Anthony Rodriguez, 45, of La Verne
- ✅ Sentence: 12 months in federal prison
- ✅ Former Position: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy
- ✅ Conviction: Conspiracy against rights
- ✅ Plea: Guilty in July 2025
- ✅ Scheme: Submitted a false search warrant affidavit to obtain GPS cell phone location data
- ✅ Victim: Estranged husband of a wealthy private security client
- ✅ False Claim: Told a judge the phone belonged to a robbery suspect
- ✅ Actual Purpose: Assist a private client during a divorce dispute
- ✅ Co-Conspirator: Former LASD deputy Eric Chase Saavedra
- ✅ Related Defendant: Adam Iza, who has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy against rights, and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery
- ✅ Investigating Agencies: FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from LASD
According to federal prosecutors, Rodriguez abused his position as an active-duty deputy by falsely claiming in a warrant application that he needed the victim’s cell phone location to investigate an armed robbery. In reality, authorities said, the information was sought to locate the estranged husband of one of Rodriguez’s private security clients.
Court records show Rodriguez worked as a private security guard for wealthy Los Angeles-area clients through a security company owned by former LASD deputy Eric Chase Saavedra. He was paid in cash while simultaneously serving as a sheriff’s deputy.
One of the company’s clients was Adam Iza, 25, a self-described cryptocurrency businessman who has pleaded guilty to multiple federal crimes, including wire fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy against rights, and conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery. Iza remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing.
Rodriguez also provided security services to another wealthy client identified in court records only as “Person 1,” who was involved in an ongoing divorce dispute.
Prosecutors said Rodriguez learned the client wanted to locate her husband and believed he possessed valuable property belonging to her.
In July 2022, Rodriguez submitted a false affidavit to a Los Angeles Superior Court judge claiming a detective investigating a robbery in Cudahy needed GPS tracking information tied to a robbery suspect’s cell phone.
Prosecutors said Rodriguez knowingly inserted the victim’s phone number into the application even though it had no connection to the robbery investigation.
After obtaining the warrant, Rodriguez received GPS location information from the cellular provider and tracked the victim to Utah before sharing the information with Saavedra.
Rodriguez admitted he knew Saavedra and other deputies associated with the private security operation had unlawfully obtained law enforcement information that was later used to threaten, intimidate and oppress individuals.
Federal prosecutors said co-conspirators later arranged for the victim’s vehicle to be towed while he was in Los Angeles, placed a tracking device on his vehicle in Utah, and sent him threatening text messages.
“This was not impulsive conduct or a momentary lapse in judgment,” prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum. “It was a calculated abuse of authority carried out with full awareness of its significance.”
Saavedra pleaded guilty in February 2025 to conspiracy against rights and filing a false tax return. He is awaiting sentencing.
The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated the case with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.