Billionaire’s Arrest: Stephen Cloobeck Made Vicious Calls To His Girlfriend’s Victims

American billionaire Stephen Cloobeck is facing possible legal trouble after allegedly threatening several men who said they were victims of theft by his girlfriend, Adva Lavie. The 28-year-old has faced felony charges tied to a series of alleged residential burglaries targeting older men she reportedly met through dating apps.

One of the alleged victims has now described disturbing calls he said he received from Cloobeck. According to reports, those conversations became a key reason for Cloobeck’s arrest investigation, as he allegedly threatened legal retaliation against people who testified against Lavie.

70-year-old Mike Farag became one of Adva Lavie’s victims when he invited her over to give the latter some modeling advice. Speaking with The California Post, he revealed that the woman stole from him during this meeting.

Farag added that Cloobeck started threatening him in January, after the case against Lavie went to court. The American businessman repeatedly called him from unknown numbers and behaved aggressively. The caller dissuaded Farag from testifying against the 28-year-old model at the court, threatening legal repercussions.

Farag added, “I was getting these unknown phone calls from a gentleman who is going after me. I don’t know who he is…[he] was aggressive. I told him I would let [law enforcement know] that he called me.”

It was on May 12 that Stephen Cloobeck was arrested, once he handed himself over to the West Hollywood police station. He was charged with four criminal counts, which included one felony charge for preventing a victim from attending or testifying at a trial. As per further reports, he was later released on a $300,000 bail.

If the businessman gets convicted on all four felony counts, he could face a massive sentence of 11 years and 6 months in prison. Cloobeck would also be required to pay up to a hefty fine of close to $30,000.

The victim, Farag, who happened to be an accounting professor at California Polytechnic, remarked that Cloobeck’s actions indicated he was trying to save his lady friend. The 79-year-old further sounded surprised at why the businessman would still intend to marry Lavie, despite the mounting criminal charges of theft against her name.

In his words, “I think he was trying to protect the lady. I am stunned…I am not judging him about who he would like to be with but… Life goes on.” While Farag refused to make a comment on Cloobeck’s personal choices, he confirmed that he would be willing to testify against the businessman at the trial if required.

The LA County District Attorney’s Office accused Mia Ventura, a.k.a Adva Lavie, of misusing dating apps to commit burglary and steal from individuals. On March 23, she faced her felonies, which included unauthorized personal identifying information and residential burglary.

Prosecutors have alleged that the woman posed as a girlfriend to various men she met on dating apps and gained access to their private properties. She then stole from them cash, gold and other highly valued designer items. If convicted, Lavie could face up to eleven years and eight months in state prison.