Los Angeles ’Crypto Godfather’ Accused of Employing Sheriff Deputies in Extortion Scheme

Adam Iza, a 25-year-old entrepreneur behind Zort, Inc., faces serious allegations of orchestrating a crypto extortion scheme with the help of Los Angeles sheriff's deputies. The so-called 'Crypto Godfather' reportedly paid law enforcement officers $280,000 monthly to obtain bogus search warrants and sensitive information on victims.

The scheme unraveled after IRS investigators discovered at least $36 million in unreported income from Iza's operations. His criminal enterprise began with a partnership with a Kosovo-based hacker to breach Meta business accounts, selling them alongside associated lines of credit.

This case emerges amid a surge in crypto-related crimes. The first half of 2025 saw record levels of cryptocurrency theft, with major exchanges increasingly falling victim to social engineering scams. The audacity of employing law enforcement as accomplices marks a disturbing escalation in crypto criminal tactics.