Former Deputy Sheriff Sentenced for Civil Rights Conspiracy
Eric Chase Saavedra, a 42-year-old former deputy sheriff with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), received a 21-month prison sentence in federal court on Monday after he admitted guilt to charges of conspiracy against civil rights and filing a fraudulent tax return. In addition to his prison term, U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson mandated that Saavedra pay restitution of nearly $91,000 to the IRS due to unreported earnings he amassed while providing private security services for Adam Iza, a man now imprisoned for a series of violent financial crimes including bitcoin robbery and kidnapping.
Security Services and Misconduct
Saavedra, who previously created a security firm named Saavedra & Associates, was engaged by Iza to offer continuous security coverage at a hefty price of $100,000 monthly. His service lasted from August 2021 until Iza’s arrest in September 2022, with a brief hiatus in the middle. During this period, Saavedra not only employed several guards but also took on security duties personally.
In exchange for a plea deal, Saavedra acknowledged abusing his position to improperly access sensitive data on individuals linked to Iza. His misconduct included:
- Fabricating a search warrant to coerce a victim into hiring his security services.
- Providing misleading information to a drug detective that led to a raid aimed at another victim of extortion.
- Falsely asserting the need for a warrant to track a cellphone, which encouraged armed intruders to target the associated residence.
This pattern of behavior raises substantial concerns about the potential misuse of police authority for personal ventures, a trend seen in other incidents connected to cryptocurrency criminal activities.
Sentencing and Broader Implications
During his sentencing hearing, Saavedra expressed regret for violating the public’s trust, while the LASD characterized his misdeeds as a significant violation of their ethical standards. Federal prosecutors remarked that such behavior severely damages the public’s faith in legitimate law enforcement.
Saavedra’s departure from the LASD was recorded on March 13, 2025, marking a significant fallout from the broader scandal. His case sits among several others involving former LASD officials implicated in wrongdoing linked to Iza, including Michael Coberg, Scott Simpkins, David Rodriguez, and Christopher Cadman. The overlapping narrative of LASD officers engaging in private enforcement roles distinguishes these cases from typical financial fraud scenarios, revealing a troubling trend of police involvement in private disputes.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Separately, Iza is currently serving a 15-year federal sentence following his conviction for an attempted bitcoin robbery and kidnapping that took place in Connecticut. He is also facing additional legal proceedings in California for charges that include conspiracy against rights and tax evasion, highlighting the multifaceted nature of his criminal operations.
As the cryptocurrency space continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly clear that cases such as those involving Saavedra and Iza serve as stark reminders of the intertwined nature of digital and physical crime, where traditional law enforcement methods are manipulated for illicit gain. While Saavedra’s sentence concludes his chapter in this saga, Iza’s upcoming legal battles remain unresolved, casting a shadow over the ongoing investigation into crypto-related offenses.
