That turn of events let him act outside the law. Based on reports, Rodriguez also helped another private security client—unrelated to Iza—with shady favors.
Saavedra is free on a $50,000 bond and is set to face a hearing on November 10. He remains under active investigation by the DOJ.
A second deputy, Christopher Michael Cadman, 33, also pleaded guilty. He pulled over a car in Paramount, staged a fake traffic stop, and held a victim at gunpoint outside Iza’s Bel Air home.
The pair forced him to send $25,000 to Iza. Cadman then filed false tax returns in 2022 claiming only $40,500 in income. In fact, he owed $11,000 for the 2021 tax year.
Those moves carried large risks. Cadman faces years in prison for armed robbery and tax fraud. His plea deal requires him to cooperate with prosecutors on related cases.
Prosecutors say Iza’s firm sent roughly $154,900 in payments to at least one officer. Court filings accuse Iza of posing as an FBI agent to seize digital assets by force. Victims include an unnamed man and his girlfriend.
Investigators also allege Iza used shell companies to hide about $1.7 million from the IRS between 2020 and 2022. Iza agreed to a deal with the DOJ in January. He faces charges for tax evasion, conspiracy against rights, and wire fraud.
A hearing is set for December 15. His ex‑girlfriend, Iris Ramaya Au, was charged in March with hiding his income. She could go to prison for three years over her part in what prosecutors call a $2.6 million criminal operation that funded more than $10 million in luxury trips.
Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
