Police Officer Gets Over Five Years in Prison for Crypto Scams

A former deputy from Los Angeles County’s sheriff’s office was sentenced to more than five years in prison. The officer, who also flew helicopters for the department, worked with a cryptocurrency businessman to trick rivals and falsely arrest them. The judge said the officer abused his power. He warned that ignoring the law has serious consequences. The sentence was 63 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. During the trial, the officer admitted he was driven by greed. He earned at least $20, 000 a month for his role as a private guard and business partner of the crypto man. In September 2021, they lured a person from Miami to Los Angeles. The deputy, tipped off by the officer, searched the car and found drugs. He arrested the victim after the officer drove past with the window down so the crypto man could watch. The officer later texted another deputy, saying the victim “enjoyed it. ”The next month, they targeted someone with a financial dispute. The officer pretended to be an active‑duty police officer and helped the crypto man extort more than $127, 000. He followed them to a shooting range in the crypto man’s basement and left them alone when they were threatened with a gun. The officer left the sheriff’s department in September 2025. The department released a statement calling his actions reprehensible and a clear violation of their standards. The crypto businessman, known as the “Godfather, ” is in federal custody since September 2024. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and tax evasion. He also faces charges in Connecticut for kidnapping and robbery conspiracies. The case shows how corruption can spread from law enforcement to illegal financial schemes, harming many people and undermining public trust.