California Man Admits Role in Attempted Robbery in Danbury

David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ADAM IZA, 25, of California, pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to an offense related to his involvement in an attempted robbery of Bitcoin and a kidnapping in Danbury in August 2024.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 25, 2024, Danbury Police arrested six Florida men who were involved in a violent carjacking of a Lamborghini Urus and the kidnapping of two occupants of the vehicle on that date. The investigation revealed that the kidnapping victims are the parents of an individual who participated in the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin. In an attempt to steal some of that Bitcoin, Iza and others planned and coordinated the attempted robbery and ultimately the kidnapping. Iza's alleged co-coconspirator, who had an altercation with the victims' son in a Miami nightclub in July 2024, was in regular communication with certain of the kidnappers in the days before the crime, provided funding for it, and helped arrange the participants' transportation and lodging. Iza communicated via cellphone and encrypted messaging applications with certain of the kidnappers, directed them as to the logistics of the scheme, and also provided funding.

Iza pleaded guilty to conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery ("Hobbs Act Robbery"), an offense that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 12.

Iza has been detained since September 24, 2024, after he was charged in the Central District of California with unrelated federal offenses.

Six other individuals were charged with offenses related to the carjacking and kidnapping. All have pleaded guilty.

This matter is being investigated by the FBI New Haven Violent Crimes Task Force, FBI Los Angeles, FBI St. Louis, and the Danbury Police Department. The FBI Task Force includes members from the Connecticut State Police and several local police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen L. Peck and Daniel George.

U.S. Attorney Sullivan thanked the U.S. Attorney's Offices for the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Missouri, the District of Columbia, and the District of New Jersey, and the State's Attorney's Office for the Judicial District of Danbury, for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this matter.