A former deputy sheriff from Los Angeles County, Scott Allen Simpkins, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. A federal judge found him guilty of lying to FBI agents during an investigation into a $25,000 extortion incident at the residence of crypto mogul Adam Iza. The judge also imposed a $10,000 fine on Simpkins for his role in obstructing justice by hiding crucial information from investigators.
Simpkins Admits to Misleading FBI Prosecutors
Simpkins, aged 34 from Brea, admitted guilt in March for obstructing justice, following which he resigned from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Enforcement Bureau. The sentence was delivered by U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson, marking yet another development in a sprawling corruption investigation involving Iza and law enforcement personnel.
Simpkins, along with fellow deputy Christopher Michael Cadman, had provided security at a party hosted at Iza’s lavish Bel Air mansion. Their services fetched them $1,400 each; however, the party became controversial due to an extortion event they attempted to cover up.
Simpkins later admitted he knowingly made false statements to federal investigators in order to shield Iza from scrutiny during the FBI’s probe.
Did Simpkins Witness Extortion?
Indeed, court documents revealed that Simpkins and Cadman witnessed the extortion of a party organizer, identified as “R.C.” R.C. was led to Iza’s office after a confrontation, where live bullets were displayed on a desk as a threat to secure a substantial financial transfer. $25,000 was forcibly moved to an account Iza controlled, facilitated by the two deputies.
Initially, when questioned by the FBI, Simpkins denied seeing any wrongdoing or the use of ammunition. His deception unraveled after being warned by agents about the legal ramifications, eventually leading to his admission of obstruction and lying to shield Iza.
Who is Adam Iza?
Adam Iza, a 25-year-old alleged crypto mastermind, remains in federal custody. Known for his extravagant ventures from his Bel Air home, Iza operated a crypto trading firm known as Zort. Documents showed he paid considerable sums to a security company led by a fellow deputy, Eric Chase Saavedra. This firm quickly employed active officers, with Simpkins and Cadman reaping bonuses for securing contracts with Iza.
The ongoing investigation has led to multiple convictions, including that of Michael David Coberg, another deputy involved with Iza, who received a prison term for orchestrating illicit schemes. Pleading guilty, Saavedra and Cadman await sentencing as the scandal unravels further.
A few concrete outcomes from the case:
- Law enforcement officials were illegally providing private security services.
- Simpkins knowingly obstructed investigation by providing false accounts.
- Securities were mishandled, with bullets used as threats in financial extortion.
- Multiple jurisdictional cases ongoing against Iza for various federal crimes.
With the legal net tightening, Iza awaits sentencing in multiple states for various crimes linked to cryptocurrency operations and extortion schemes. His reputation as a notorious crypto figure, intertwined with law enforcement corruption, points to deeper systemic issues within security enforcement and private circuit engagements.
