Billionaire Stephen Cloobeck was arrested Tuesday in California, just weeks after he cut ties with former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).
The timeshare magnate turned himself in to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department in West Hollywood after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
“On May 12, 2026, at approximately 10:59 a.m., Stephen Cloobeck surrendered at West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station on an outstanding felony warrant for alleged violation of dissuading or intimidating a witness or victim of a crime (136.1 PC). This investigation is being conducted by the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station and the Los Angeles Police Department in connection with the Adva Lavie investigation,” the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said in a statement to KTLA. “Mr. Cloobeck was released the same day after posting a $300,000 bail.”
(Video Credit: KTLA)
“These charges are false, and we look forward to our day in court,” a spokesperson for Cloobeck told the California Post.
Cloobeck, a former California gubernatorial candidate, backed Swalwell’s run for governor but then cut ties with the Democrat amid sexual assault allegations, reportedly booting him out of his Beverly Hills mansion.
“I am no longer associated with a man that takes advantage of women,” he told reporters at the time. “I support women’s rights.”
“I was blown away!” he told a KTTV reporter. “Like blown away. Like, there’s no way I would have endorsed him. It’s such a shock.”
“I am no longer a Democrat!” he added. “I’m now a libertarian Republican, because that’s what a blue dog Democrat used to be.”
Swalwell’s video denying the claims against him was reportedly filmed inside Cloobeck’s 9,700-square-foot home.
“Cloobeck has been charged with three felony counts after allegedly trying to dissuade multiple people from testifying in a criminal case pending against his fiancée, model and social media influencer Adva Lavie, according to the LASD,” KTLA reported.
“It’s a very serious charge under California law. It’s a felony that faces the possibility of years in prison, especially if force is used,” Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told the outlet. “Why would someone do this? Why would someone want to stop another person in another case from testifying? Well, if there is a romantic reason, then absolutely, then the story makes more sense, so that’s why prosecutors are going to want to connect those dots.”
Lavie’s pending case has prevented her from moving ahead with plans to marry Cloobeck.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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