Adam Iza sentenced for crypto fraud and corrupting law enforcement

Adam Iza, a 26-year-old cryptocurrency entrepreneur, has been sentenced to over six years in prison for conspiracy, wire fraud, and tax evasion. Iza, who operated the trading platform Zort, admitted to concealing more than $36 million in income from the IRS and using his wealth to corrupt law enforcement officers.

Prosecutors established that Iza hired off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies to act as personal enforcers. These officers were used to carry out extortion, intimidation, and to set individuals up for arrest. One former detective, Eric Chase Saavedra, was previously sentenced to nearly two years in prison for his role in the conspiracy.

U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson ordered Iza’s new sentence to run concurrently with a 15-year sentence he is already serving for an attempted Bitcoin robbery and kidnapping in Connecticut. As part of his plea agreement, Iza must forfeit various luxury items, including high-end vehicles and designer goods.