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Defendant Pleads Guilty to Extortion and Conspiracy Charges
LOS ANGELES – In a shocking turn of events, Michael David Coberg, a 44-year-old former deputy and helicopter pilot with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD), pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges for his involvement in a scheme to extort and falsely arrest rivals.
According to the plea agreement, Coberg worked on the side with Adam Iza, a 25-year-old self-proclaimed ‘Godfather’ who has been in federal custody since September 2024. Iza, a self-styled cryptocurrency businessman, has pleaded guilty to federal charges and awaits a December 15 sentencing date.
Coberg’s contract with Iza allowed him to work as a business partner and advisor, as opposed to simply working security shifts. Coberg and Iza at one point planned to start a business selling anabolic steroids. Iza paid Coberg at least $20,000 per month for his services.
Participation in Extortion
In October 2021, Coberg accompanied other security guards to pick up a victim whose business partner was having a financial dispute with Iza. After transporting the victim to Iza’s residence, Iza placed a firearm on the desk and displayed an assault rifle, which was placed on the ground near the desk.
Coberg informed the victim that he was an active-duty law enforcement officer and interrogated the victim about the financial dispute Iza had with the victim’s business partner. While Coberg stood watch over the victim, Iza demanded – and recorded a video of – the victim transferring $127,000 to a bank account Iza controlled.
False Traffic Stop and Arrest
In September 2021, Coberg conspired with Iza and others to lure another victim from Miami to Los Angeles to set up the victim and cause him to be arrested with illegal narcotics. During the previous month, Coberg learned of a dispute between Iza and the victim and that Iza and two corrupt LASD deputies working for Iza forced the victim at gunpoint to transfer $25,000 from the victim’s bank account to an account Iza controlled.
Coberg and other co-conspirators set up a plan in which the victim’s ex-girlfriend called the victim and pretended to be interested in pursuing a romantic relationship to convince the victim to fly to Los Angeles to meet with her to use drugs together. At Coberg’s advice and counseling, the co-conspirator purchased the airplane ticket for the victim, picked him up at Los Angeles International Airport in a white Tesla, drove the victim to obtain drugs, and later traveled to a location in Paramount where an LASD deputy would make the traffic stop and arrest.
Christopher Michael Cadman, 33, of Fullerton, a corrupt LASD deputy who had participated in the intimidation of the victim in August 2021 resulting in the $25,000 payment to Iza, also helped set up the false arrest. Cadman pleaded guilty on August 7 to federal criminal charges and awaits sentencing in January 2026.
Coberg’s guilty plea marks a significant blow to the LASD and highlights the need for greater accountability within law enforcement agencies. The case serves as a reminder that corruption can occur at any level and that those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Public Corruption|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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