The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has accused Adam Iza, founder of the crypto trading platform Zort Inc., of extorting digital assets through police bribery and other crimes.
FBI Accusations
The FBI accuses Adam Iza of bribing three Los Angeles Sheriff's Department deputies to solicit police data and file dubious search warrants against a business associate known as E.Z. Iza allegedly paid the deputies up to $280,000 per month and used the obtained information to threaten E.Z. after a failed kidnapping attempt in November 2021.
Kidnapping Incident
According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department report, E.Z., who had known Iza for over two years, claimed that Iza arranged for two men, including a former sheriff's deputy, to force him into an SUV at gunpoint. E.Z. managed to escape and reported the incident to law enforcement. Iza, however, told the police that he had feared for his own safety and had called the men as bodyguards.
Additional Charges and Court
Furthermore, Iza is also accused of evading taxes, hiding income, and using funds to purchase luxury items. Prosecutors charged him with conspiracy against rights and tax evasion. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 8.
This case is one example of the rising crime in the cryptocurrency world. As the value of cryptocurrencies increases, crimes related to them become more frequent.
