A federal judge sentenced Scott Allen Simpkins, a former deputy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, to 18 months in prison and fined him $10,000 for lying to FBI agents regarding a $25,000 extortion he witnessed at the Bel Air home of jailed crypto businessman Adam Iza.
Sheriff’s deputy admits to obstruction
Scott Simpkins, 34, of Brea, pleaded guilty in March to one count of obstruction of justice. He resigned from the department’s Special Enforcement Bureau after admitting to the felony, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson handed down the sentence on Monday.
The case is part of a wider corruption scandal that has led to prison terms for multiple deputies who worked as private security for Adam Iza, a self-styled crypto entrepreneur who went by “The Godfather.”
Prosecutors reported that Simpkins and another deputy, Christopher Michael Cadman, had been hired to provide security at Iza’s mansion during a party in August 2021. Both received $1,400 each for their services that weekend.
Simpkins later admitted he knowingly made false statements to federal investigators in order to shield Iza from scrutiny during the FBI’s probe.
Extortion incident covered up
According to court documents, the extortion involved a party planner, referred to as “R.C.”, who was ejected from the event for erratic behavior. The following day, Simpkins and Cadman brought R.C. into Iza’s office, where Iza placed several live 9mm rounds on his desk and rolled a bullet between his fingers while speaking. He then took R.C.’s phone and compelled the transfer of $25,000 into an account Iza controlled. The deputies escorted R.C. from the office after the transaction was completed.
When questioned by the FBI in November 2024, Simpkins denied observing any ammunition or financial transfer and claimed nothing unusual had taken place. Agents reportedly warned Simpkins that making false statements to investigators was a crime. He eventually admitted the statements were intended to hinder the investigation.
Adam Iza and the circle of corruption
Adam Iza, 25, has remained in federal custody since September 2024. Prosecutors describe him as a cryptocurrency entrepreneur who operated a trading firm, Zort, from his Bel Air residence. Court records show Iza regularly spent close to $100,000 per month on private security services.
A significant portion of those funds was paid to a security company operated by then-deputy Eric Chase Saavedra, who filled its ranks with active law enforcement officers. Prosecutors noted that Simpkins and Cadman later received about 10% of the firm’s first month of profits as an incentive for securing Iza’s contract.
Simpkins is the latest law enforcement member to be sentenced in the ongoing case. Former deputy Michael David Coberg received 63 months in prison and was ordered to repay $127,000 for his involvement in helping Iza extort a rival and organize a staged drug arrest. Both Saavedra and Cadman have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Iza faces legal proceedings in multiple jurisdictions. In January 2025, he pleaded guilty in Los Angeles to wire fraud, tax evasion, and conspiracy against rights, stemming from a scheme that prosecutors say involved the theft of around $37 million by hijacking Meta advertising accounts.
On June 1, 2026, Iza also pleaded guilty in Connecticut to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, related to a violent August 2024 kidnapping near Danbury designed to recover stolen Bitcoin. Iza is currently awaiting sentencing in both districts.
Mini dictionary: Hobbs Act robbery, a federal crime in the United States involving robbery or extortion affecting interstate or foreign commerce. It is often charged in cases of violent theft or racketeering schemes.
