Former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff sentenced to over 5 years in prison for assisting cryptocurrency fraudsters in extortion and blackmail According to the announcement from the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, former Los Angeles County Sheriff Michael David Coberg has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison and $127000 in compensation for assisting cryptocurrency fraudster Adam Iza in extortion and false arrests. Coberg, as Iza's business partner and consultant, earns a monthly salary of at least $20000. In October 2021, Coberg participated in bringing a victim to Iza's residence, where Iza threatened him with a gun. Coberg interrogated the victim as a law enforcement officer and forced him to transfer $127000 to Iza's account. In September 2021, Coberg conspired with Iza and others to set up a scheme that lured another victim to fly from Miami to Los Angeles, and arrested him on false charges of traffic interception and illegal drug possession. Coberg pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy to extort and conspiracy to infringe upon civil rights in September 2025. Iza has been detained by the federal government since September 2024 and has pleaded guilty to federal charges, awaiting sentencing.