'A serious betrayal of the badge': Ex-deputy headed to prison for helping L.A. crypto 'godfather'
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Set us as preferred A former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy who admitted to violating the civil rights of multiple victims through intimidation, illegal search warrants and other abuses of power, was sentenced Monday to nearly two years in prison.Eric Saavedra, 42, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to one count of conspiracy against rights and one count of making and subscribing to a false tax return.
Saavedra founded a company — Saavedra & Associates LLC — that hired sheriff’s deputies to provide security to Adam Iza, a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman turned criminal defendant.Iza typically paid Saavedra or his company around $100,000 per month for round-the-clock bodyguards, according to Saavedra’s plea agreement.The hired muscle protected Iza and sometimes committed crimes for him, according to the plea agreement.“His conduct compromised the integrity of the sheriff’s department and the judiciary,” U.S.
District Judge Percy Anderson said during the sentencing hearing Monday afternoon.Anderson cited Saavedra’s “prompt and extensive cooperation” as a factor in lessening the sentence.The judge ordered Saavedra to pay nearly $100,000 in restitution to the IRS.
As part of his plea agreement, Saavedra agreed to forfeit several items he purchased as part of the conspiracy, including 32 Louis Vuitton bags, 27 pairs of Gucci shoes, five Louis Vuitton wallets, and a money-counting machine.Federal prosecutors were seeking a prison sentence of at least a year and a half; Saavedra’s defense attorney had requested five years of probation, to include 24 months of home detention with location monitoring.“I abused the trust of the badge,” Saavedra said during the hearing.
“All I can do is stand here without qualification and say I’m sorry.” Saavedra is among several former sheriff’s deput...