Federal prosecutors call him “The Godfather,” and like the fictional mafia boss, he allegedly had cops on the payroll to do his criminal bidding. Adam Iza, who ran a cryptocurrency trading platform known as Zort, allegedly paid several L.A.
County sheriff’s deputies — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars — to perform unlawful searches and arrests as part of an extortion scheme, according to a federal criminal complaint unsealed this week. Iza hid millions of dollars from tax collectors by failing to report income and funneling money through shell companies with co-conspirators, according to the complaint. He allegedly spent the funds on numerous luxury vehicles, including a Lamborghini Aventador and a Rolls Royce Phantom, nearly a million in rent for a Bel Air mansion and around $64,000 on cosmetic surgery to extend the length of his legs.
Iza stands accused of conspiracy against rights and evasion of tax assessments. Authorities arrested him on Sept. 23, according to federal court documents.
Records show he is ordered to appear before a judge on Oct. 8. “Things aren’t what they seem to be,” said Josef Sadat, an attorney representing Iza in the federal case.
“The truth is going to come out, hopefully soon.” Iza boasted about paying “active duty” law enforcement $280,000 per month, according to the complaint. The U.
S. attorney’s office declined to comment on whether the deputies — who are not named in the complaint — will be charged. Several dep.