Billionaire Stephen Cloobeck appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom Friday for his arraignment on witness tampering charges. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Cloobeck faces three felony counts of attempting to dissuade or prevent a witness or victim from testifying, and one misdemeanor count of making annoying phone calls. These charges stem from the criminal case against his former fiancée, Adva Lavie, who is accused of using dating apps to steal from wealthy older men.
According to court documents, Cloobeck allegedly attempted to prevent Michael Craine, an alleged victim of Lavie's, from testifying at a trial by using force and threats of violence in early December of last year. He is also accused of doing the same to another alleged victim, Scott Thurman, between February and March.
Lavie, a former "Penthouse Pet," was arrested in March on six felony charges. She is accused of burglaries throughout Los Angeles County involving several victims, some of whom Cloobeck allegedly threatened. Cloobeck and Lavie were scheduled to marry in Jerusalem on June 18 after becoming engaged in Las Vegas. However, their engagement was called off shortly after Lavie's second arrest.
Lavie was charged for stealing luxury items from an Airbnb during the 2025 Coachella music festival. Surveillance cameras reportedly captured her taking items from a Tesla. Her bail was revoked after her second arrest for not wearing her court-mandated GPS monitoring ankle bracelet. Cloobeck was with her at the time of this arrest.
Prior to this, Lavie had avoided bail revocation twice, including for leaving the county and obtaining an Israeli passport, both violations of her bail conditions. Despite these, a judge had allowed her to remain out on bail. She is currently being held without bail and is expected in court for a diversion hearing.
Lavie's legal team has filed a motion asserting she was sexually abused, used illicit drugs, and worked as a paid escort in Las Vegas.
Cloobeck, who was a significant donor to former Congressman Eric Swalwell, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on all charges. Lavie faces a potential sentence of 11 years.