Former LASD Deputy Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations and Tax Evasion in Crypto Crime Case

In Los Angeles, Christopher Michael Cadman, a 34-year-old former deputy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for abusing his law enforcement authority and for tax evasion. Cadman pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights and subscribing to a false tax return, with the court ordering him to pay $25,000 in restitution.

Cadman was employed by Adam Iza, a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman who is currently serving a 15-year federal sentence for involvement in an attempted Bitcoin robbery and kidnapping in Connecticut. Court documents reveal that Cadman and another deputy intimidated and threatened a victim connected to Iza, leading to a transfer of approximately $25,000 from the victim's bank account to Iza's. Cadman also helped orchestrate a traffic stop to arrest the same victim, receiving cash payments for his role.

Additionally, Cadman failed to report at least $40,500 in income on his 2021 federal tax return, resulting in an unpaid tax liability of about $11,000. This misconduct is part of a broader pattern involving multiple former deputies linked to Iza's criminal activities, including extortion, false arrests, and misuse of law enforcement powers.

Other convicted deputies include Michael Coberg, Scott Simpkins, David Rodriguez, and Eric Saavedra, each sentenced for crimes ranging from extortion to obstructing investigations and submitting false affidavits. Iza's ex-girlfriend, Iris Au, also pleaded guilty to failing to report over $2.6 million in illicit funds.

The FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation units led the investigation, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department providing assistance. Prosecutor Maxwell K. Coll emphasized the importance of integrity and constitutional rights in law enforcement, condemning the abuse of authority that undermines public trust.