By New York Post (U.S.) | Created at 2026-08-07 18:06:02 | Updated at 2026-08-07 18:50:10
54 minutes ago
Newly single billionaire Stephen Cloobeck may have ended his relationship with accused kleptomaniac Adva Lavie, but his court case involving her is very much still happening.
Cloobeck, a former supporter and friend of Eric Swalwell, appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Friday morning for his arraignment on witness tampering charges.
A usually chatty Cloobeck was stone-faced as he entered the courtroom flanked by multiple attorneys. Cloobeck pled not guilty to all charges against him in a short arraignment before he left.
Cloobeck is charged with three felony counts of attempting to dissuade or prevent a witness or victim from testifying, and one misdemeanor count of making annoying phone calls. All charges stem from Lavie’s criminal case in which she’s accused of using dating apps to steal from rich older men.
Tthe billionaire allegedly tried to prevent Michael Craine, an alleged rich victim of Lavie’s from testifying at a trial with force and an “express and implied threat of force and violence upon a victim,” in early December of last year, according to court documents.
He allegedly did the same to another alleged Lavie victim, Scott Thurman, between February and March.
Advie, a “Penthouse Pet” was arrested on six felonies in March after being tied to a slew of burglaries throughout Los Angeles County involving several victims including some of the men Cloobeck threatened.
The time share billionaire and the model were scheduled to get married June 18th in Jerusalem after they were engaged in Las Vegas in front of a star studded ballroom at a charity fundraiser.
However, the engagement was off shortly after Lavie was arrested again last week in Beverly Hills, as The Post reported exclusively.
Lavie was charged for stealing luxury items from an Airbnb during the Coachella music festival in 2025. Surveillance cameras caught her taking items from a Tesla including..
The Penthouse Pet had her bail revoked after the second arrest in front of the Mediterranean hot spot Azur because she wasn’t wearing her GPS monitoring ankle bracelet. Clobeck was with her at the time.
During a dramatic court hearing after the arrest Lavie tried to duck a Post photographer while she was dressed in jail house blue and was cuffed. The photos show her turning her head away from the camera, and scrambling back into lock up.
Lavie had avoided having her bail revoked two prior times. She was caught leaving the county and obtaining an Israeli passport, both violations. However Judge Diego Edber ruled that she could remain out on bail.
Now, she remains behind bars, and is expected in court Monday for a diversion hearing in another attempt to avoid jail time.
Lavie claims she was sexually abused, used illicit drugs, and was a paid escort in Las Vegas in a motion filed by her lawyers including high profile Jeremy Lessem who has called The Penthouse Pet, “A work in progress.”
Cloobeck was a major donor for disgraced Congressman Eric Swallwell, who was accused of sexual harrassment and raping an LA woman. After the scandal broke Swallwell was staying with Cloobeck before the billionaire said he asked Swallwell to leave.
The billionaire faces 10 years behind bars if convicted on all charges. Lavie faces 11 years.
