A former deputy U.S. marshal was handed a sentence of over 10 years in federal prison on Friday, June 30. This punishment was the result of his actions of impersonating his ex-girlfriend and sending threatening messages to himself, which falsely indicated the sexual assault of his wife. The convict, Ian Richard Diaz, resorted to this devious scheme in 2016 to coerce his ex-girlfriend, Michelle Suzanne Hadley, into giving up her stake in a condo they jointly owned in Anaheim.
Diaz, who previously resided in Brea, was found guilty by a federal court in Downtown Los Angeles in March. The charges against him included conspiracy to commit cyberstalking, cyberstalking, perjury, and obstruction of justice. Over a period of six months from May to October 2016, Diaz and his now ex-wife, Angela Diaz, created online accounts in Hadley’s name. These accounts were then used to fabricate threats against Angela Diaz, making it appear as though they were being sent by Hadley.
In addition to their elaborate impersonation, Diaz and his ex-wife utilized Craigslist to pose as Hadley and solicit men for non-consensual “rape fantasies” targeting Angela Diaz. Furthermore, they falsely claimed that a masked man who attacked Angela Diaz in their garage was dispatched by Hadley. This attack turned out to be an elaborate ruse.
During the course of these crimes, Diaz exploited his position as a U.S. Marshal and reported the fabricated offenses to the Anaheim police. Consequently, Hadley was arrested and spent 88 days in jail before the charges against her were dropped as the truth began to emerge. Diaz, however, was apprehended by federal prosecutors in May 2021.
According to prosecutors, Diaz and Hadley resided together in the Anaheim condo from June to August 2015. Following Hadley’s departure, Angela Diaz moved in after marrying Diaz in February 2016. It remains unclear when the couple divorced.
Prosecutors sought a sentence ranging from 12 to over 15 years for Diaz in their sentencing memorandum. The memo also included a victim impact statement from Hadley, in which she detailed the abuse she endured during and after her relationship with Diaz. Hadley expressed how Diaz aimed not only to obtain the condo but to utterly ruin her life.
As a result of her ordeal, Hadley suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and lost her apartment, car, furniture, and scholarship money for school during her incarceration. The trauma inflicted by Diaz’s actions also led her to experience subsequent toxic and predatory relationships, ultimately becoming a single mother. Hadley lamented that Diaz had set her up for another decade of abuse and forced her to relinquish some of her life’s dreams.
In response, Karen Goldstein, Diaz’s defense attorney, requested a sentence of five years with three years of supervised release. Goldstein emphasized that Diaz’s life had significantly changed for the better since the offenses occurred over seven years ago. She highlighted Diaz’s role as a father to his now five-year-old son with his current wife.
Goldstein also submitted 14 letters from supporters attesting to Diaz’s character. Angela Diaz, who participated in the plot, was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to five years in prison. Hadley, following her release from jail, proceeded to file a lawsuit against the city of Anaheim in 2018, which was ultimately settled for $1.8 million in 2021.
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