US influencer accused of poisoning ex-fiancé amid theft case
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A new allegation has emerged in the case against Adva Lavie, a 29-year-old US influencer and former adult magazine model who had already been accused by several wealthy older men of theft and fraud. Police say material found during a court-approved search of her phone indicated she may also have drugged her then-fiancé, 64-year-old businessman Stephen Cloobeck, while they were in a relationship
Key Points
- Lavie was accused of using sugar-dating websites between 2023 and 2025 to approach older wealthy men, gain trust through dating or companionship, then steal luxury watches and other valuables after staying in their homes
- Cloobeck publicly defended Lavie in April and paid for her legal team, but by June he said he suspected he too was a victim, ended their engagement, and asked her to leave his US$26 million mansion
- Prosecutors told the court that a detention video allegedly showed Lavie discussing how she used and exploited Cloobeck, while police have not publicly detailed the alleged poisoning method or motive
- Lavie faces six felony counts, including grand theft, residential burglary and unlawful use of personal identification data, and she denied the charges in court
- After being granted bail, she was accused of cutting off her electronic ankle monitor and leaving the monitored area, then allegedly stealing a Rolex worth about US$8,600, plus Louis Vuitton sunglasses and a card holder, from an Airbnb property
Why It Matters
The case is still expanding, with police continuing to investigate the alleged drugging of Cloobeck while Lavie remains in custody after being re-arrested in July. For Hong Kong readers, the allegations also underscore the legal and personal risks tied to trust-based relationships formed through online arrangement platforms, especially when access to homes and valuables is involved