Iris Ramaya Au, former girlfriend of convicted crypto fraudster Adam Iza—infamously known as “The Godfather”—has agreed to plead guilty to a federal tax charge related to her involvement in his illicit financial schemes.
According to a statement released by the U.S. Department of Justice on March 5, Au admitted to filing a false tax return by failing to disclose more than $2.6 million in illegally obtained funds she received through Iza’s fraudulent activities.
Iza, who pleaded guilty in January, orchestrated a series of fraudulent schemes between 2020 and 2024. His operations included the illicit acquisition and sale of advertising accounts linked to Facebook and Meta, as well as credit fraud. The Justice Department revealed that Iza generated millions of dollars in unreported income through these schemes.
Under Iza’s direction, Au established shell corporations and opened multiple bank accounts to facilitate the movement of illicit funds. Prosecutors say she used these funds to pay approximately $1 million in bribes to Los Angeles deputies and to finance a lavish lifestyle, purchasing luxury real estate, vehicles, jewellery, and designer clothing.
Beyond personal expenditures, the authorities also allege that the pair spent nearly $10 million on recreational activities and invested around $16 million in cryptocurrency.
As part of her plea agreement, Au admitted to transferring more than $2.6 million from the fraudulent accounts into her personal bank accounts between 2020 and 2023. She now faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison, while Iza, facing significantly more severe charges, could serve up to 35 years. His sentencing is scheduled for June 16.
Iza, who founded the Zort crypto trading platform, admitted to charges of conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. He also confessed to bribing Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies, using them for private security, and instructing them to obtain search warrants and confidential law enforcement information against individuals he had financial and personal disputes with.
Au and Iza’s case is the latest in a series of major crypto-related fraud cases that U.S. authorities have been prosecuting in the past two months. Brazilian national Douver T. Braga was recently extradited from Switzerland to the United States to face charges over his alleged role in a $290 million Bitcoin investment fraud scheme.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Braga was accused of wire fraud and conspiracy in connection with the Trade Coin Club (TCC) operation. He pleaded not guilty to a 13-count indictment during his appearance before a U.S. District Court in Seattle on February 21.
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