Adam Iza, 25, of California, pleaded guilty on May 26 in Bridgeport federal court to his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping that took place in Danbury in August 2024, David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced the plea.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, Danbury Police arrested six Florida men involved in a violent carjacking of a Lamborghini Urus and the kidnapping of two occupants. The investigation found that the victims were parents of an individual who had participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. Iza and others planned and coordinated the attempted robbery with the goal of stealing some of that Bitcoin. A co-conspirator who had an altercation with the victims’ son at a Miami nightclub was also involved by providing funding for the crime and arranging transportation and lodging for participants. Iza communicated via cellphone and encrypted messaging applications with some kidnappers, directed logistics for the scheme, and provided funding.
Iza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery), which carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. Sentencing is scheduled for August 12. He has been detained since September 24, 2024, after being charged with unrelated federal offenses in California.
Six other individuals have also been charged with offenses related to this case; all have pleaded guilty.
The matter is being investigated by multiple agencies including FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force—which includes members from Connecticut State Police as well as local police departments—FBI Los Angeles, FBI St. Louis, and Danbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Daniel George are prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked several U.S. Attorney’s Offices—including those from California, Missouri, Washington D.C., New Jersey—and Connecticut’s State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut prosecutes federal crimes within its jurisdiction using approximately 68 assistant attorneys supported by about 57 staff members; it serves all residents statewide under the U.S Department of Justice umbrella, according to its official website.