NY man beaten, gagged in Vegas hotel over alleged gambling debts

A ruthless Michigan trio allegedly lured a New Yorker into a room at the MGM Grand and attacked him for failing to repay what they said was more than $300,000 in Las Vegas gambling debts.

Naved Azim was beaten, strangled, gagged, and shoved in a closet in the horrific Wednesday incident, police said.

Accused attackers Issa Hamade, 32; Ahmad Harb, 32; and Sobhi Sobh, 33; claimed Azim owed Harb money after placing bets on his behalf, but authorities said it was all a shady gambling scheme.

Azim was allegedly beat up at the MGM hotel. GC Images

The assailants allegedly knocked Azim onto his knees and video called his father to demand payment, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported.

“Listen, your son scammed me out of 185k in fake sports bets. I want my money, period,” Harb allegedly messaged the father, police said.

Harb, a disc jockey, allegedly told cops that Azim actually owed him $325,000.

The attackers took photos of Azim’s family and friends and made note of their addresses, claiming they would go after his loved ones if he didn’t hand over the cash, according to authorities.

Azim told police he started placing sports bets with a “promoter/bookie,” leading him to met Harb, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Harb then allegedly began asking Azim to place bets for him.

At one point, Azim was allegedly supposed to place a $2,300 bet on Harb’s behalf on a Knicks game — winning him a $20,000 payout.

But Azim told cops he never actually placed the bet, the newspaper reported.

Azim allegedly never placed the ebts and created fake Draft King receipts of them. SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Azim allegedly went as far as to create fake DraftKings sports betting tickets to back up his lies.

Harb continued placing bets through Azim and tallied up what was supposed to be massive winnings, police said.

Meanwhile, Azim told police he hoped Harb would eventually lose a bet, which would help cover up the lie. But Harb’s luck allegedly didn’t run out and he kept winning.

Hamade, Harb and Sobh were arrested on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping, extortion, conspiracy, battery with intent to commit mayhem, robbery or grand larceny, and coercion with force or threats.

Michael Troiano, Hamade’s lawyer, said in court Wednesday that his client, who is a dentist, has a squeaky clean record and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Attorney Ryan Helmick, representing Sobh, a physical therapist, said there is “going to be a lot to uncover” in the convoluted case.

Two of the three suspects had posted bond and were awaiting release Saturday, authorities said. The suspects were ordered not to contact Azim.

Vegas police did not immediately return a request for comment.