Billionaire Democrat donor Stephen Cloobeck has been arrested for allegedly tampering with his glamorous fiancee’s upcoming court trial.
Cloobeck, 64, has been accused of attempting to intimidate or dissuade a witness from testifying in his girlfriend Ada Lavie’s case, after she was accused of robbing wealthy old men. Both Cloobeck and Lavie have denied the allegations against them.
Lavie, 28, was ordered to wear an ankle monitor early April after pleading not guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom to six felonies, including grand theft, burglary and unauthorized use of identifying information.
Prosecutors accused Lavie of targeting rich old men and luring them into ‘honey traps’ where she would swindle them for cash and a luxury lifestyle.
The former Penthouse Pet model and social media influencer, also known as Mia Ventura, would allegedly con her way into her affluent partner’s homes before robbing them of cash, designer items and jewelry.
She is set to tie the knot with Cloobeck, a real estate tycoon who founded timeshare company Diamond Resorts, on June 18 near the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department told the Daily Mail on Wednesday that Cloobeck surrendered in West Hollywood on the outstanding felony warrant.
He was booked at the station just before 11am, and was released on a $300,000 bond at 1.17pm.
Cloobeck has denied the allegations. ‘These charges are false and we look forward to our day in court,’ he said in a statement through his lawyers.
Billionaire Democrat donor Stephen Cloobeck has been arrested for allegedly tampering with an upcoming court trial. The real estate tycoon has been accused of attempting to prevent or dissuade a victim or witness from testifying. He has denied the allegations via his attorney
Cloobeck hit the headlines after his wedding to model Adva Lavie was thrown into disarray when she was accused of robbing wealthy old men. She has pleaded not guilty
If convicted on the felony charge, the billionaire faces up to four years in prison. The Daily Mail has contacted police for more information.
Cloobeck was a longtime donor to Eric Swalwell until sexual assault allegations against the former Democrat Congressman were aired in mid-April.
Hours before Swalwell dropped his bid for California Governor, Cloobeck told the New York Post he was no longer supporting him and had kicked him out of his Los Angeles mansion.
‘I am no longer supporting Eric,’ Cloobeck said on April 12. ‘F***ing tell everyone I’m a libertarian. F*** you, Democrat Party. I’m a libertarian now.’
Days before, a court slapped his fiancee with an ankle monitor and ordered her to surrender her passport, which could scupper their plans to wed in Jerusalem.
Lavie was ordered by a judge to stay in California, and showed her angst when confronted by reporters about the potential breakdown of her nuptials.
‘I just can’t wait for this nightmare to be over with,’ she told the California Post, as she left the courthouse in a striking green ALO sweat suit and matching green handbag.
Lavie was ordered by a judge to not leave California without permission and was fitted with an ankle monitor, and told reporters she ‘just can’t wait for this nightmare to be over with’ as she left the courthouse in a green ALO sweat suit and matching green handbag
Lavie, 28, was ordered to wear an ankle monitor after pleading not guilty in a Los Angeles courtroom in early April to six felonies, including grand theft, burglary and unauthorized use of identifying information
Lavie faces up to 11 years in prison if convicted, and reportedly showed her displeasure at her arraignment as she was seen grabbing at her electric ankle monitor when she left court.
It is unclear when she began her relationship with Cloobeck, who made headlines last year with a longshot bid to become the next Governor of California.
After dropping his candidacy, Cloobeck gave more than $1 million to Swalwell’s campaign, and he is now among hundreds of supporters trying to claw back their donations through an attorney.
He told the Post that Swalwell had been staying at his palatial Beverly Hills mansion, but he kicked him out as soon as he heard about the sordid allegations.
‘I have a lot of people who stay at my house,’ Cloobeck said.
‘I built a gorgeous place, my dream home, I relish it, and I’m a very generous man. I’m very thoughtful and I’m very kind.’
Police records show Cloobeck turned himself in to Los Angeles cops in West Hollywood on Tuesday morning after receiving a warrant for his arrest
Eric Swalwell has been married to Brittany Ann Watts, a sales director at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, since October 2016, and they share three children together
It came just weeks after Cloobeck called Swalwell his ‘little brother’ during an interview with Politico, and he previously shot down rumors about him allegedly acting inappropriately with female staffers before they became formal charges.
Swalwell has been accused of sexually assaulting at least five women, including a former employee.
The married Congressman was among a group of Democrats leading the race to replace Gavin Newsom as leader of the nation’s most populous state – but his campaign imploded days after shocking claims began emerging on April 10.
Swalwell denied the accusations in a social media post two days later while announcing his resignation from the gubernatorial race. ‘I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made – but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,’ he wrote.
The first allegation against Swalwell was aired by a former employee of Swalwell’s who spoke anonymously with the San Francisco Chronicle on April 10.
Three women have spoken on the record about their alleged experiences with Swalwell, including Lonna Drewes (pictured above), Ally Sammarco, and Annika Albrecht
Three women have spoken on the record about their alleged experiences with Swalwell, including Ally Sammarco and Annika Albrecht, who are pictured left and center
She said the Democratic Congressman sexually assaulted her in 2019, when he was her boss, and again in 2024.
The alleged victim said she was too intoxicated to consent to sex in both cases and did not go to police at the time because she was afraid she would not be believed.
Since the Chronicle story was published, at least four more women have made claims against the politician, accusing him of rape, sexual assault, and sending unsolicited messages and photographs.
Three women have spoken on the record about their alleged experiences with Swalwell, including Lonna Drewes, Ally Sammarco, and Annika Albrecht.
Drewes, of California, told a news conference she believes Swalwell drugged and raped her in 2018 after the opening of a restaurant.
She alleged that Swalwell choked her during the assault. ‘While he was choking me, I lost consciousness. I thought I died,’ she said.
Social media influencer Sammarco said she received unsolicited nude photographs from Swalwell on Snapchat after initially reaching out to him on X to discuss politics.
Attorney Sara Azari released a statement on Eric Swalwell’s behalf saying he ‘categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him’
Albrecht said Swalwell also sent her ‘sexually inappropriate’ messages on Snapchat.
‘For me, justice won’t be until he can’t ever harm a woman ever again, and he has faced the consequences for the women that he has harmed,’ she told CBS News.
Swalwell has maintained that the allegations are false. He said it would be unfair to his constituents if he remained in Congress while he is distracted from his duties.
Attorney Sara Azari released a statement on Swalwell’s behalf saying he ‘categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation of sexual misconduct and assault that has been leveled against him.’
Swalwell has been married to Brittany Watts, a sales director at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, since October 2016, and they share three children together.
The Daily Mail has contacted Azari and the Swalwell campaign about donor requests for refunds.
