Ex-LA Sheriff’s Deputy Admits Guilt in Extortion Plot with Crypto Figure

Ricardo Medina Jr., a former deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, has pleaded guilty to a federal extortion charge, potentially facing a 20-year prison sentence. The Department of Justice revealed that Medina, formerly a gang liaison officer with the FBI’s Violent Gangs and Armed Task Force, participated in an extortion scheme with an individual referred to as the “Crypto Godfather.” According to court documents, Medina and his associate extorted a victim for a significant sum of money, threatening to release damaging information about the victim if payment was not made. Medina is scheduled for sentencing later this year. This case is part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice to combat cryptocurrency-related crime, online fraud, and extortion.