David Anthony Rodriguez, a former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy, received 12 months in federal prison on Monday for submitting a false search warrant affidavit to obtain cellphone location data. Rodriguez pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiracy against rights after prosecutors proved he tracked a private client's target instead of a legitimate robbery suspect. The case connects to Adam Iza, a cryptocurrency businessman who pleaded guilty to multiple federal crimes including conspiracy in a bitcoin kidnapping plot involving hundreds of millions of dollars in BTC.
Rodriguez Submitted False Affidavit to Track Private Target
Rodriguez, 45, falsely claimed in a sworn affidavit that a detective had requested the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Gang Surveillance Team to assist with a robbery investigation in Cudahy. According to the Justice Department's July 20 sentencing announcement, Rodriguez lied to a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to obtain the search warrant.
The affidavit falsely stated Rodriguez had identified a robbery suspect using two cellphones. He then claimed the victim's cellphone number belonged to that suspect and requested GPS precision location information, despite knowing the victim had no connection to the robbery.
After serving the warrant on the phone provider, Rodriguez obtained location pings, tracked the victim to Utah, and shared the information with Eric Chase Saavedra, another former LASD deputy who owned a private security company.
Case Ties to Adam Iza's Cryptocurrency Crime Convictions
Rodriguez worked private security assignments for wealthy Los Angeles-area clients while serving as an active-duty deputy. One client was Adam Iza, a self-described cryptocurrency businessman who lived in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach.
Iza, identified in previous reporting as the CEO of crypto platform Zort, was arrested for allegedly paying sheriff's deputies in an extortion scheme. He later pleaded guilty in California to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion.
Federal prosecutors also charged Iza in Connecticut, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery in a bitcoin kidnapping plot tied to the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of BTC. He remains in federal custody awaiting sentencing.
Prosecutors said Saavedra's company regularly employed active deputies and other law enforcement officers. Rodriguez admitted he knew participants had unlawfully obtained information and used it to threaten, intimidate or oppress people.
False Warrant Circumvented Judicial Safeguards for Digital Surveillance
Cellphone location records can expose a person's movements, destinations, and routines. The Justice Department's electronic evidence guidance explains procedures for obtaining digital evidence, while Rule 41 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure outlines federal warrant procedures involving electronic information and tracking devices.
Prosecutors said Rodriguez bypassed judicial safeguards by placing false claims in a sworn affidavit. The DOJ stated: "This was not impulsive conduct or a momentary lapse in judgment. It was a calculated abuse of authority carried out with full awareness of its significance."
Saavedra pleaded guilty in February 2025 to conspiracy against rights and making and subscribing to a false tax return. He is awaiting sentencing.
FAQ
What did David Anthony Rodriguez do to receive a federal prison sentence?
David Anthony Rodriguez submitted a false affidavit to a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to obtain a search warrant for cellphone location data. He falsely claimed he was assisting with a robbery investigation in Cudahy, but actually tracked a private client's target who had no connection to any crime. He pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiracy against rights.
How is this case connected to cryptocurrency businessman Adam Iza?
Rodriguez worked private security for Adam Iza, a cryptocurrency businessman who pleaded guilty to multiple federal crimes. Iza pleaded guilty in California to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud and tax evasion, and separately in Connecticut to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery in a bitcoin kidnapping plot involving hundreds of millions of dollars in BTC. Rodriguez admitted knowing participants unlawfully obtained information to threaten and intimidate people.
