Deputy Sentenced to Prison for Abusing Police Powers with Fake Search Warrant

A former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy has been sentenced to one year in federal prison for using a false affidavit to obtain a man's cellphone location. David Anthony Rodriguez, 45, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to conspiracy against rights and admitted that he lied to a judge to get the search warrant.

The Justice Department said Rodriguez falsely claimed a detective had asked LASD's Gang Surveillance Team to assist with a robbery investigation in Cudahy. In reality, he was secretly working for a private client who wanted information about his estranged husband. The deputy obtained location pings and tracked the victim to Utah, sharing the information with Eric Chase Saavedra, another former LASD deputy.

Rodriguez's actions have raised concerns about the abuse of court-approved surveillance powers and the need for stricter safeguards against law enforcement misconduct. His case is tied to cryptocurrency businessman Adam Iza, who has pleaded guilty to multiple federal crimes, including conspiracy against rights and wire fraud.