{"id":61878,"date":"2026-09-29T08:25:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:25:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61878"},"modified":"2026-09-29T08:25:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:25:10","slug":"former-l-a-county-deputy-sentenced-for-helping-crypto-businessman-target-rivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=61878","title":{"rendered":"Former L.A. County deputy sentenced for helping crypto businessman target rivals"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LOS ANGELES \u2014<\/strong> A former Los Angeles County sheriff\u2019s deputy was sentenced Monday to 21 months in federal prison for using his law enforcement powers to help a cryptocurrency businessman target adversaries and for concealing more than $373,000 in income from the IRS.<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson also ordered Eric Chase Saavedra, 42, of Chino, to pay $90,984 in restitution. Saavedra pleaded guilty in February 2025 to conspiracy against rights and filing a false tax return.<\/span><\/p>\n

A security client with access to police powers<\/span><\/h3>\n

Saavedra operated a private security company that employed active deputies. Adam Iza, a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman, hired the company to provide round-the-clock security at his Bel Air home for about $100,000 a month, according to court documents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prosecutors said Saavedra used sheriff\u2019s department credentials to search confidential law enforcement databases for information about people involved in disputes with Iza. He also obtained search warrants under false pretenses to locate targets.<\/span><\/p>\n

False warrant preceded attempted robbery<\/span><\/h3>\n

\"FBIIn January 2022, Saavedra falsely told a judge that a man\u2019s phone number was connected to a firearms investigation, prosecutors said. The resulting warrant gave him location information that he passed to Iza.<\/span><\/p>\n

Iza believed the man had a laptop containing more than $100 million in cryptocurrency. Two months later, three armed people tried to enter the man\u2019s home to steal it. They fled after the man fired a shot in their direction, according to court documents.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saavedra also admitted receiving about $373,146 in unreported income. Under his plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit purchases that included 32 Louis Vuitton bags, 27 pairs of Gucci shoes and a money-counting machine. He is the fifth former sheriff\u2019s deputy sentenced in the investigation. Iza has pleaded guilty in the federal case and is serving a separate 15-year sentence arising from an attempted<\/span> Bitcoin robbery and kidnapping in Connecticut.<\/span><\/p>\n