A former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy who lied to federal agents about witnessing a cryptocurrency businessman threaten a victim with live ammunition was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.
U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson handed down the sentence and a $10,000 fine to Scott Allen Simpkins, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California said in a statement on Monday.
Simpkins pleaded guilty on March 17 to one count of obstruction of justice and resigned from the LASD's Special Enforcement Bureau following his felony plea, the office added.
According to the statement, Simpkins was working private security at Iza's Bel Air residence alongside fellow former LASD deputy Christopher Michael Cadman when the incident occurred in 2021. They were employed by Saavedra & Associates, a company owned by then-LASD Deputy Eric Chase Saavedra.
Prosecutors said Iza placed four or five live 9mm rounds on his desk, twirled a bullet while threatening the victim, and demanded a $25,000 transfer before Simpkins and Cadman escorted the victim from the property.
