Los Angeles, California – A former deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after admitting he used the authority of his badge to assist a cryptocurrency fraudster in a series of schemes involving intimidation, extortion, and a staged arrest.
Michael David Coberg, 44, of Eastvale, received a 63-month federal prison sentence from United States District Judge Percy Anderson. The court also ordered Coberg to pay $127,000 in restitution. Coberg pleaded guilty in September 2025 to conspiracy to commit extortion and conspiracy against rights.
At the time of the crimes, Coberg served as both a deputy and a helicopter pilot with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Prosecutors said that while still employed in law enforcement, he secretly worked alongside Adam Iza, a 25-year-old self-described cryptocurrency businessman who is now in federal custody after pleading guilty to charges connected to fraudulent crypto marketing schemes.
Coberg’s relationship with Iza went beyond occasional security work. According to court records, the deputy acted as a partner and adviser to Iza and was paid at least $20,000 per month. At one point, the two men even discussed launching a business selling anabolic steroids.
Federal prosecutors argued that Coberg abused the power and trust that came with his position.
“Coberg swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States,” prosecutors argued in a sentencing memorandum.
“Instead, [he] betrayed that oath and those he swore to protect, abusing the awesome power of his badge. And he did so for an all-too-common reason: greed.”
The case centered in part on a 2021 incident in which Coberg helped Iza intimidate a business associate during a financial dispute. The victim was brought to Iza’s residence, where firearms were displayed. While Coberg identified himself as an active law enforcement officer and questioned the victim, Iza demanded money. The victim ultimately transferred $127,000 to an account controlled by Iza.
Authorities also uncovered a separate plot that involved arranging a false arrest. Coberg and others allegedly lured another man from Miami to Los Angeles under the pretense of meeting with his ex-girlfriend. After the victim arrived, he was driven around the city and eventually stopped in Paramount by law enforcement following misleading information provided by Coberg.
During the stop, officers discovered cocaine in the vehicle and psilocybin mushrooms in the victim’s backpack, leading to his arrest. Investigators later determined the situation had been orchestrated.
Another former LASD deputy, Christopher Michael Cadman, pleaded guilty in August 2025 for his role in helping set up the arrest and is awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was led by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation, with assistance from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice handled the case.