The chief executive of cryptocurrency platform Zort, Adam Iza, was arrested on Monday, following federal allegations of extortion, conspiracy, and tax evasion, the Los Angeles Times reported. Prosecutors claim Iza paid Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies to assist in carrying out unlawful searches and arrests, targeting individuals for financial gain. The charges, part of a broader federal investigation, include an extortion scheme and a kidnapping attempt linked to Iza’s cryptocurrency business.

According to the complaint, Iza allegedly compensated deputies as much as $280,000 per month to engage in illegal activities, including a 2021 kidnapping attempt involving a business associate known as “E.Z.” Iza purportedly planned to steal digital assets stored on the associate’s phone during the failed operation. Prosecutors revealed in the complaint:

Iza boasted about paying ‘active duty’ law enforcement $280,000 per month.

Additionally, Iza is accused of hiding millions of dollars through shell companies while spending lavishly on luxury cars, a Bel Air mansion, and leg-lengthening surgery.

Federal investigators allege that Iza used deputies to obtain illegal GPS tracking warrants, further enabling his extortion schemes. The case also includes accusations that Iza extorted an event planner over a party dispute, leading to an unlawful arrest and financial loss. As the FBI continues to investigate, several deputies have been relieved of duty for their involvement, and Iza faces multiple charges, with a court appearance set for Oct. 8. The investigation remains ongoing.