TLDR

• Iris Ramaya Au, ex-girlfriend of crypto “Godfather” Adam Iza, pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return, failing to report over $2.6 million in illicit gains
• Au created shell corporations and bank accounts at Iza’s direction to facilitate his criminal activities from 2020-2023
• Iza pleaded guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud, and tax evasion related to fraudulent Meta advertising accounts and other schemes
• The couple spent lavishly on bribes, luxury items, and acquired about $16 million in cryptocurrency
• Iza faces up to 35 years in prison (sentencing June 16), while Au faces up to 3 years

Iris Ramaya Au, the 35-year-old former girlfriend of self-proclaimed crypto “Godfather” Adam Iza, has pleaded guilty to federal tax charges.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on March 5 that Au admitted to filing a false tax return by failing to report more than $2.6 million in illicit gains obtained through her ex-boyfriend’s criminal operations.

The case centers around a complex web of financial crimes carried out between 2020 and 2024. According to court documents, Au played a key role in Iza’s criminal activities by creating shell corporations and opening bank accounts in the names of those entities at his direction.

Au transferred more than $2.6 million from these various accounts to her personal bank accounts between 2020 and 2023. She failed to report this income to the Internal Revenue Service despite being aware of the illegal source of the funds.

The illicit money funded an extravagant lifestyle for the couple. They used the proceeds to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies and to purchase luxury real estate, cars, jewelry, and clothing.

Prosecutors revealed that Au and Iza spent nearly $10 million on “recreational activities” using the ill-gotten gains. They also acquired around $16 million in cryptocurrency with the fraudulent funds.

Conspiracy, Wire Fraud & Tax Evasion

Iza, 24, was arrested in September 2024 and charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and tax evasion. In January, he pleaded guilty to these charges, admitting his involvement in multiple illegal schemes.

One of Iza’s primary criminal operations involved fraudulently obtaining Facebook and Meta advertising accounts. He would then sell access to these accounts, defrauding Meta of approximately $37 million.

The criminal activities extended beyond financial fraud. In 2018, Iza allegedly impersonated FBI agents to steal cryptocurrency at gunpoint. He reportedly held a victim and his girlfriend hostage while demanding laptop passwords to access their digital assets.

Home Invasion

Authorities also indicate that Iza attempted a home invasion in 2022 to steal crypto assets. These violent incidents mark a dangerous escalation in crypto-related crimes.

Perhaps most concerning was Iza’s corruption of law enforcement. He admitted to paying off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies to provide private security and to harass his business rivals through illegal means.

These corrupt deputies allegedly obtained search warrants and confidential law enforcement information targeting people with whom Iza had financial and personal disputes. One deputy, Eric Chase Saavedra, faces separate charges for misusing his position to assist Iza.

Iza also founded Zort, a cryptocurrency trading platform. Prosecutors believe he used this legitimate-appearing business as a vehicle for carrying out large-scale fraud, though specific details about Zort-related crimes were not fully detailed in the release.

The consequences for the couple are severe. Au faces up to three years in federal prison for her tax crimes. Iza faces a much longer sentence of up to 35 years for his more extensive criminal activities.

Iza is scheduled for sentencing on June 16. Au is expected to be sentenced around the same time, according to court documents, and has agreed to cooperate with authorities in their ongoing investigation.