October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

Crypto “Godfather” Sentenced to 78 Months for Sheriff’s Deputy Conspiracy and Meta Fraud

Adam Iza was sentenced to 78 months in California for a case involving a sheriff’s deputy conspiracy, Meta advertising-account fraud and tax evasion. The term runs concurrently with a separate 15-year Connecticut sentence.
From TheFinanceBase Team3 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Adam Iza was sentenced in federal court in Los Angeles on October 5, 2026, to 78 months in prison and ordered to pay $23,402,766 in restitution. The “six years” in the headline is a rounded description of that 78-month term. It runs concurrently with a separate 15-year federal sentence imposed in Connecticut the previous month, so the terms overlap rather than add up to a 21-year sentence. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the sentence and restitution.

What did Adam Iza do?

The case involved two distinct schemes: a conspiracy with off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies and a separate fraud involving Meta advertising accounts and credit lines. Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. The DOJ’s October 2026 sentencing announcement describes the admitted conduct.

The conspiracy involving sheriff’s deputies

From August 2021 through April 2022, Iza hired off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies as personal security. DOJ says he conspired with deputies to obtain confidential law-enforcement information, personally identifiable information, and court-authorized search warrants to locate people with whom he had financial or other disputes. He also enlisted deputies to intimidate and threaten those people. DOJ says five former deputies employed by Iza have been convicted of federal crimes.

The Meta advertising-account fraud

Separately, from December 2020 to September 2024, Iza fraudulently gained access to Meta business manager accounts and associated credit lines, then sold access to advertising companies. Meta clients were billed for advertising they had not incurred. After the billing was discovered, Meta refunded clients and absorbed the loss, according to DOJ.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
Sale
Ledger Nano X - Classic Crypto Wallet with Bluetooth
  • Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
  • Effortlessly build your crypto portfolio via the all in one Ledger Wallet app: buy, sell, send, receive, swap, stake and more across popular blockchains. 15,000+ coins & tokens in a single dashboard. Keep a close eye on the market. Compare service providers. Track performance. Get timely alerts. Build your portfolio with confidence.
  • Enjoy Bluetooth connectivity, iOS access, and hours of battery use with this mobile-first, secure backup signer. Freedom you can depend on.
  • Genuine Check: confirm your signer is authentic during setup with the Ledger Wallet app.
  • Protect your signer: keep it in mint condition at all times with a bespoke Pod or Case to avoid scratches and everyday wear and tear.

The “crypto” label does not mean cryptocurrency enabled the Meta fraud: DOJ describes the account-access and credit-line scheme separately. Iza also received a 15-year federal sentence in Connecticut in September 2026 for his involvement in an attempted Bitcoin robbery; that was a separate case.

What do the dollar figures mean?

The figures refer to different measures, periods, and obligations. They should not be treated as interchangeable estimates of Meta’s loss or as amounts all owed to the same party.

Rank #2
Sale
TANGEM Crypto Wallet Pack of 3 – Trusted Cold Storage Hardware Wallet
  • Proven security at scale: Over 9 years and millions of cards issued with no known remote hacks, while military‑grade EAL6+ security keeps your private keys locked inside the chip. Your cryptocurrencies stay strongly protected from online attackers.
  • Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
  • Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
  • Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
  • Trusted by 6 million users worldwide (4.9 App Store, 4.8 Google Play) - buy, sell, swap, stake, and spend cryptocurrency directly. The secure offline storage wallet designed for how people actually use crypto wallets
Figure What it describes
Approximately $37 million Money connected with sales of access to Meta advertising accounts that went into Iza’s companies’ bank accounts from 2020 through 2022, as described by DOJ in 2026.
At least $36,360,844 Gross income from the Meta fraud scheme that Iza admitted through 2023, according to DOJ in 2026.
$13,286,152 Total loss to the IRS, according to DOJ in 2026.
$23,402,766 Restitution ordered in the California case in October 2026. DOJ’s release does not characterize this entire amount as restitution to Meta.

These are case figures reported by the DOJ, not general measures of cryptocurrency fraud. The earlier DOJ plea announcement in January 2025 said Iza admitted stealing more than $37 million by fraudulently accessing Meta business manager accounts and associated lines of credit from 2020 to 2022. The sentencing announcement provides the later sentence and updated financial figures. Read the DOJ’s January 2025 plea announcement.

Why did he receive 78 months?

Iza’s 78-month California term followed his guilty pleas to conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. The DOJ sentencing announcement does not provide a full account of the judge’s reasoning, so the sentence should not be attributed to one offense alone or explained with a rationale beyond the reported plea and sentencing facts.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
TANGEM Crypto Wallet Pack of 2 – Trusted Cold Storage Hardware Wallet
  • Proven security at scale: Over 9 years and millions of cards issued with no known remote hacks, while military‑grade EAL6+ security keeps your private keys locked inside the chip. Your cryptocurrencies stay strongly protected from online attackers.
  • Tap once to manage your entire crypto wallet across 90 blockchains - no USB cables or Bluetooth, no batteries, no setup. Access 14,100+ coins & tokens, DeFi, NFTs, and staking instantly from your phone
  • Smart backup: Use your second Tangem Wallet as your Backup keys with end‑to‑end encryption; no more papers, pictures. If one card is lost, the remaining can still restore full access, with an optional seed phrase available for advanced users.
  • Engineered to last up to 25 years: Waterproof (IP69K), shockproof and tested for extreme temperatures from −25°C to 50°C. A durable cold wallet with long‑term protection and independently audited security.
  • Trusted by 6 million users worldwide - buy, sell, swap, stake, and spend cryptocurrency directly. The secure offline storage wallet designed for how people actually use crypto wallets

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argued: “Individuals with substantial financial resources must understand that they cannot purchase access to confidential databases, investigative tools, warrants, arrests, badges, or firearms for use in private disputes.” DOJ attributes the statement to prosecutors collectively, not to a named speaker.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

How does the Connecticut sentence affect the total time?

The 78-month California sentence runs concurrently with the separate 15-year Connecticut federal sentence imposed in September 2026. Concurrent sentences overlap: the 78 months are not added on top of 15 years as a consecutive term. The DOJ announcement does not specify release dates or how custody calculations will apply, so the two stated terms alone do not establish an exact release date.

Quick Recap

Best Value
Trezor Safe 7 Crypto Hardware Wallet with Bluetooth for Android/iOS/Desktop
  • Dual-chip architecture for maximum protection: The next-gen, fully auditable TROPIC01 chip works alongside a certified EAL6+ Secure Element—completely NDA-free—to deliver radically transparent, industry-leading defense against physical attacks.
  • Quantum-ready security: Get protection against future threats with the first-ever hardware wallet designed with quantum-ready architecture.
  • See every detail with confidence: Our largest high-resolution color touchscreen makes it easy to navigate your assets, review transactions and manage your coins with clarity.
  • Wireless freedom with encrypted Bluetooth control: Manage, buy, swap and stake securely using Trezor Suite on desktop or mobile. Qi2-compatible wireless charging keeps your Trezor powered up. No cables required—security meets convenience.
  • Works seamlessly with Android, iOS and desktop: Connect wirelessly or via USB-C to your phone or computer. Manage your crypto anywhere with our companion Trezor Suite app.
Rank #4
DCENT Hardware Wallet | Biometric Cold Storage, Bluetooth, Multi-Crypto
  • EAL5+ CERTIFIED SECURE ELEMENT + FINGERPRINT PROTECTION — Your private keys stay encrypted offline on a certified EAL5+ chip, the same security tier used in EMV bank cards. Built by DCENT, securing crypto since 2018. Fingerprint authentication adds a second layer no PIN-only wallet can match.
  • 10,000+ ASSETS NATIVE ON 100+ BLOCKCHAINS — Hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Cardano, popular stablecoins (USDT, USDC), and NFTs in one wallet. No third-party apps, no fragmented setup — every supported asset works straight out of the box.
  • TAP-TO-SIGN MOBILE EXPERIENCE — Pair your wallet with the DCENT mobile app over Bluetooth. Manage tokens, review transactions, and access in-app swap features directly from your phone — no cables, no desktop required.
  • WEB3 & dAPP ACCESS VIA METAMASK — Connect to MetaMask and other browser extension wallets to manage NFTs, claim airdrops, and access dApps. A large screen and intuitive 4-button interface keep every transaction clearly visible before you sign.
  • SEAMLESS FIRMWARE UPDATES & 30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE — Apply security updates without resetting your wallet or migrating funds. Backed by Amazon's 30-day money-back guarantee — your purchase is risk-free.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadFree repair scan
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You DownFree scan - exact matches

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.