L.A. County sheriff's deputy made $20,000 a month on crypto mogul's payroll. Now he'll do 5 years in prison

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A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who conspired with a cryptocurrency magnate to extort and falsely arrest rivals was sentenced Monday to more than five years in prison.Michael David Coberg, who was a deputy and Sheriff’s Department helicopter pilot at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy against rights.“These actions represent a profound abuse of governmental power,” U.S.District Judge Percy Anderson said during Coberg’s sentencing hearing Monday afternoon.

“There are serious consequences when you choose to ignore the law you swore to uphold.”Anderson sentenced Coberg to 63 months in prison and three years of supervised release.Coberg’s attorney had requested a two-year prison term.“But for this crime, he’s led an exemplary life,” Edward M.

Robinson told the judge about his client.Coberg is one of several former deputies who admitted participation in a sprawling illegal enterprise run by Adam Iza, a Southern California crypto mogul who referred to himself as “the Godfather.” Coberg worked as a private security guard and business partner for Iza and received at least $20,000 per month for his services, according to his plea agreement.“I do take full responsibility,” Coberg said during the hearing.

“It was out of greed.”In September 2021, Coberg conspired with Iza and another co-conspirator to lure a victim — identified only by the initials R.C.— from Miami to L.A.

and cause him to be arrested with drugs, according to the plea agreement.A deputy — who prosecutors said was not privy to the illicit scheme — searched R.C.’s car after being tipped off by Coberg and found psilocybin mushrooms and cocaine and arrested the victim.

Coberg admitted that during the arrest he slowly drove past the scene with the window rolled down so Iza could watch.Afterward, Coberg texted ...