Eccentric billionaire Stephen Cloobeck’s pals tried to warn him to interrupt off the connection together with his fiancée lengthy earlier than he was arrested on suspicion of witness tampering and threats involving her felony case, the California Publish has realized.
“Lots of the individuals who have been concerned in his life tried to assist and he didn’t need the assistance, they usually’ve chosen to stroll away as a result of it’s too poisonous,” a supply with information of the state of affairs advised The Publish.
The supply branded Adva Lavie a “grasp manipulator.”
“She mainly made him consider she was a sufferer, despite the fact that it’s very confirmed she’s not a sufferer.”
The warnings got here lengthy earlier than Cloobeck turned himself in Tuesday after prosecutors accused him of attempting to intimidate or silence alleged victims and attorneys related to the felony case in opposition to his fiancée, Adva Lavie, who’s additionally passed by the aliases Shoshana and Mia Ventura.
Cloobeck, 64, now faces a number of felony costs after Los Angeles prosecutors alleged he tried to dissuade witnesses from testifying within the pending felony case in opposition to Lavie, who prosecutors say preyed on rich older males she met by means of courting apps.
Cloobeck allegedly threatened or pressured a number of alleged victims — together with businessman Michael Craine, Scott Thurman and Mike Farag — in addition to lawyer Lou Shapiro, who represents one of many males. Prosecutors allege a few of the conduct concerned implied threats of pressure and violence.
Cloobeck has denied wrongdoing.
“These costs are false, and we stay up for our day in courtroom,” a spokesperson for Cloobeck advised The Publish.
Cloobeck’s arrest surprised many in Los Angeles political and social circles, the place Cloobeck had grow to be recognized for lavish events at his sprawling Beverly Hills mansion — a property he beforehand boasted had been expanded to roughly 30,000 sq. toes.
“I designed a mini resort,” Cloobeck advised The Publish final month. “It’s Xanadu.”
Throughout a Tremendous Bowl get together he hosted in February, a whole bunch of company packed into the property, together with Lavie and disgraced ex-congressman Eric Swalwell, in response to an attendee.
“She was simply sort of holding him like he was an previous man,” the supply stated.
Cloobeck gave greater than $1 million in assist of Swalwell’s marketing campaign for California governor however kicked him out of the Beverly Hills mansion after lady got here ahead with allegations of sexual assault and rape in opposition to the politician.
Lavie, 28, has pleaded not responsible to 6 felony costs alleging she manipulated and financially exploited rich older males she met on-line.
Since her 2025 arrest, she has remained out of custody underneath digital monitoring whereas repeatedly in search of permission from the courtroom to take away the ankle bracelet.
Courtroom filings included modeling pictures, bikini runway pictures and letters from enterprise associates who argued the monitor was damaging her profession prospects.
Regardless of the allegations, Cloobeck publicly stood by Lavie, saying beforehand that their shared “trauma” was one thing that bonded them and he’s persevering with to plan their marriage ceremony.
“The wedding remains to be on,” Cloobeck stated, “the date is now a secret.”
