LOS ANGELES, CA — Real estate developer and former California gubernatorial candidate Stephen Cloobeck was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of interfering with a witness in his fiancée's criminal case, according to reports.
Cloobeck, 64, was charged on April 28 with two felony counts of attempting to prevent or dissuade a witness/victim from attending a proceeding by force or threat, and one felony count of preventing or dissuading a witness or victim from attending or testifying at a trial or proceeding. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of annoying telephone calls — allegedly directed at the attorney of one of the alleged victims in his fiancee's case, according to prosecutors.
He was arrested Tuesday morning and freed on $300,000 bond, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department online inmate records.
Cloobeck's fiancee — 29-year-old model and social media influencer Adva Lavie, who is also known as Mia Ventura — is accused of using dating apps to cultivate relationships with wealthy older men and younger women to gain access to homes and steal from them, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.
Lavie has pleaded not guilty to six felony counts stemming from the allegations.
Prosecutors claim Lavie posed as victims' girlfriend or travel companion before burglarizing their homes in Westlake Village, West Hollywood, Los Angeles and Beverly Hills between 2023 and 2025.
If convicted on all charges, Lavie faces up to 11 years and eight months in state prison, prosecutors have said. She is out of custody but has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor and stay away from alleged victims, according to prosecutors.
The California Post reported that Lavie has sought to have the ankle monitor removed, arguing that it interferes with her modeling work. Her case is expected to go to trial toward the end of May.
Cloobeck turned himself in after a warrant was issued, The California Post reported.
A spokesman for Cloobeck denied the allegation. “These charges are false and we look forward to our day in court,” the spokesman said.
It was unclear when Cloobeck might appear in court, with no arraignment date immediately set.
Cloobeck, a former CEO of time share company Diamond Resorts International and a major Democratic donor, briefly ran for governor last year before ending his campaign in November and backing then-Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Cloobeck later cut ties with Swalwell after a woman alleged Swalwell drugged her and sexually assaulted her in a West Hollywood hotel in 2018. Swalwell has denied her account and other allegations of sexual misconduct.
Swalwell has denied the allegations.
Swalwell dropped out of the gubernatorial race after the allegations surfaced in April.
Swalwell had been a house guest of Cloobeck until the latest allegation surfaced, when Cloobeck withdrew his financial backing of the disgraced politician, according to published reports.
Cloobeck — once a prominent Democratic donor — simultaneously distanced himself from the party amid the Swalwell fallout and later described himself as a libertarian Republican.
In an interview with Fox 11, Cloobeck described his political position as: "It’s called executing, being accountable, enforcing respect, responsibility, and results."
Cloobeck and Lavie had publicly announced plans to get married in Jerusalem, however, Lavie is barred from leaving the state due to her pending criminal case.
More California News:
City News Service contributed to this report.
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