Tag: U.S. Attorney’s Office

CALIFORNIA—On July 20, the United States Attorney for the Central District of California announced that former Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy David Anthony Rodriguez, 45, of La Verne, was sentenced to a year in federal prison for submitting a false search warrant to a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.

In 2021, Rodriguez was hired by a private security firm, Saavedra & Associates, owned by his LASD colleague, Eric Chase Saavedra, 43, of Chino.  One of Rodriguez’s clients was a woman in the process of divorcing her husband, referred to as “Person 1.” He worked at least two shifts guarding her. During this time, she told him her husband possessed valuable items and that she was concerned he could not be found despite multiple attempts.

In July 2022, Rodriguez submitted an affidavit for a warrant in which he falsely claimed a detective requested assistance from the LASD’s Gang Surveillance Team to locate a suspect as part of an investigation into a robbery in Cudahy three days earlier.  He claimed the suspect possessed two cell phones he was seeking the precise location so the suspect could be arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. The missing husband’s number was used as the cell phone number.  Once the warrant was approved, Rodriguez determined that the husband was in Utah and gave the information to Saavedra.

Another client for whom Rodriguez worked was Adam Iza, 25, of Newport Beach and Beverly Hills, who conducted cryptocurrency-related business. He referred to himself as “The Godfather.” He was arrested in September 2024 and pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges of tax evasion, wire fraud, and conspiracy against rights, along with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery in Connecticut and California.

In July 2025, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy against rights, in October, after he left the sheriff’s department.

The LASD assisted in the investigation, which was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In February 2025, Saavedra pleaded guilty to one count of making and signing a false tax return and one count of conspiracy against rights.  He will be sentenced in the near future.

By Daniel Diquinzio

SANTA MONICA—On June 5, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced that a Santa Monica resident pleaded guilty to doxing and harassing an individual who works for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a lawyer. Gregory John Curcio, 68, faces one count of violating the protection of individuals who are performing official duties.

Doxing is the exposure of private information, such as a phone number, address, or place of employment, that can identify a person online.  Swatting is harassment, where someone reports to law enforcement, claiming the target of the swatting is violating the law, and gives the target’s location to cause the target harassment or arrest.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in February 2025, Curcio allegedly posted the home address of the ICE lawyer on Facebook, made similar posts on another social media site, and used those posts to instruct people to swat her.  The victim claims he never met her.  She claims Curcio harassed her mother for several years and has harassed her and her family since January 2024.

Curcio will appear in court on August 21, 2026, for a sentencing hearing and faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in federal prison. District Judge Michelle Williams Court will oversee the hearing.

The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Professional Responsibility, with Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo of the National Security Division serving as the prosecutor.

Canyon News reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for comment and was told that it had no comment beyond what was in the press release and court documents.

By Daniel Diquinzio