A former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and fined $10,000 for obstruction of justice. Scott Allen Simpkins, 34, pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents and prosecutors in an effort to shield cryptocurrency entrepreneur Adam Iza, who operated fraudulent ventures under the moniker "The Godfather."
Simpkins admitted that he provided false testimony in the case of Iza, a 25-year-old who allegedly used violence and intimidation in his schemes. Iza has been in federal custody since September 2024 and awaits sentencing after pleading guilty to multiple charges. Simpkins resigned from the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau after admitting to the felony on March 17.
Prosecutors stated that Simpkins attempted to aid Iza by falsely denying he witnessed Iza threaten and extort $25,000 from a party planner at his Bel Air mansion. The incident occurred in August 2021, when Iza hired Simpkins, along with another then-LASD deputy Christopher Michael Cadman, and other law enforcement officers for private security at a party.
Following the party, around 3 or 4 a.m. on August 15, 2021, Simpkins learned the party planner, identified as "R.C.," had been removed due to erratic behavior. The following day, while working security at Iza's mansion, Simpkins and Cadman escorted R.C. to Iza's office. According to prosecutors, Iza placed live 9mm ammunition on his desk and, while twirling a bullet, demanded that R.C. transfer $25,000 to an account he controlled. After the transfer, Simpkins and Cadman escorted R.C. from the mansion.
When Iza was arrested in September 2024, and federal charges were brought, the FBI seized Simpkins' phone. Two months later, Simpkins repeatedly lied to FBI agents and federal prosecutors, claiming he did not see any ammunition in Iza's office during the encounter with R.C. and that he did not witness any financial transactions. As part of his plea agreement, Simpkins acknowledged that his false statements were intended to impede the criminal investigation and prosecution of Iza.
In addition to Simpkins and Iza, Christopher Michael Cadman and former LASD deputy Eric Chase Saavedra have also pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges and are awaiting sentencing. Former LASD Deputy Michael David Coberg is currently serving a 63-month federal prison sentence and was ordered to pay $127,000 in restitution for his role in helping Iza extort a rival and orchestrate a sham illegal drug arrest of another individual in 2021.