The FBI accuses the founder of the cryptocurrency trading platform Zort of bribing police, extortion, and tax evasion

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the complaint released by the FBI shows that Adam Iza, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange platform Zort, is suspected of paying up to $280,000 per month in bribes to three officers of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) to illegally obtain search warrants and sensitive police data.

The FBI investigation revealed that Iza used this illegally obtained information to extort and harass a victim codenamed E.Z., attempting to gain access to their laptop used for storing cryptocurrency. Case details disclosed that Iza had attempted to kidnap E.Z. and intimidated the victim by sending personal information from the police database.

Additionally, the complaint also accuses Iza of concealing tens of millions of dollars in income and failing to pay income taxes between 2020 and 2022. The FBI stated that Iza paid bribes to officers through his company Zort and other affiliated entities, with individual payments sometimes approaching $200,000. Iza has now been charged with conspiracy to violate rights and tax evasion.