Stephen Cloobeck, an eccentric, lefty billionaire who’s burned greater than $1 million supporting Rep. Eric Swalwell’s run for California governor, is engaged to a Penthouse Pet and Israeli OnlyFans model who’s dealing with a string of legal prices for allegedly burglarizing the houses of wealthy old men in Los Angeles.
The Post can reveal that Swalwell’s marketing campaign benefactor lately grew to become engaged to Adva Lavie, who additionally goes by the identify Shoshana and has been accused of posing as a romantic partner or travel companion before stealing cash, gold, and high-end designer goods.
In an unique interview, Cloobeck instructed The Post that his new fiancée – whom he began courting simply eight months in the past – just isn’t a “menace to society” however moderately a sufferer like himself.
“The story is twisted. Her story has not been told,” Cloobeck stated.
“She has been abused. I’m a man that has been abused by women. You don’t think I’ve done my homework?”
The alleged honeytrapper is about to be arraigned Monday on six felony prices, together with two counts of grand theft, two counts of housebreaking and two counts of unauthorized use of private figuring out info.
Cloobeck and Shoshana’s engagement get together was held in March at Cloobeck’s $26 million residence – the identical Beverly Hills mansion the place Swalwell has been posting promotional videos for his campaign while missing votes in Congress.
Social media posts present Swalwell seems to have visited Cloobeck’s palatial 9,700-square-foot property quite a few occasions since September.
A luxury real estate listing for the home notes that it’s “double gated,” presumably to preserve criminals out. But it now seems the total home has additionally included a lady with an ankle monitor.
Prosecutors allege that between 2023 and 2025, Lavie used courting apps to domesticate relationships with rich older men and youthful ladies throughout Los Angeles County, together with in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman stated Lavie “exploited trust built through online relationships to gain access to victims’ homes and steal from them.”
However, Cloobeck scoffed on the prices filed by Hochman.
“I’m very disappointed my dear friend Nathan Hochman, and my lawyer David Hochman, did not tell me she’s a menace to society,” Cloobeck instructed the Post.
“Many politicians have met her.”
Swalwell additionally appears to be on pleasant phrases with Cloobeck’s alleged honey-trapper fiancée, with congressman following her on Instagram. He’s additionally spent prolonged time at Cloobeck’s 9,700-square-foot mansion, elevating questions on whether or not he truly has a residency in California.
Neighbors in Livermore, the place Swalwell claims residency, told The Post they’ve never seen the congressman.
“Eric told me when I met her, because he’s a prosecutor: ‘Do your homework, Stephen,’” Cloobeck instructed The Post, including that he did a “deep, deep, deep dive.”
Cloobeck posted an Instagram video final month displaying himself turning round in a crowded room whereas holding a microphone and saying: “Shoshana, would you be my wife?” Through a squinted smile she stated “yes” to Cloobeck earlier than repeating the phrase in Hebrew.
The couple are planning to get married on June 18 close to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Cloobeck instructed The Post in a textual content message.
Cloobeck stated his fiancée was concerned in the darkish underbelly of Los Angeles society, the place wealthy men pay tons of of {dollars} to ladies to be a part of them at dinner.
The expectation is a minimum of one of the ladies will then go residence with the person.
“These predators think they get something for it,” Cloobeck stated. “It’s gross, it’s disgusting.”
“I never even knew this world existed. There is this whole underbelly of this craziness.”
Detective Angela Lopez, who investigated Lavie’s case, instructed the Post that the alleged honeytrapper dedicated crimes towards eight victims and confirmed no regret.
If convicted on all counts, Lavie faces up to 11 years and eight months in state jail. Lavie has beforehand pleaded not responsible on all prices.
Cloobeck, who declined to say if he’s paying for his fiancée’s attorneys, recommended the protection will word the trauma Lavie has skilled, from being raped at age 17 to being abused by her father.
“It’s a story of abuse, and a story of a woman being accused by an obsessed elderly man,” Cloobeck stated. “And believe me, I was so cautious.”
Chanse Corbi, a social media influencer who appeared on season 4 of “Love Island USA,” called out Lavie in two TikTok videos this month, saying she stole garments, purses, and cash from her and others.
“I know so many people who have been personally affected, including myself, by this girl,” Corbi stated.
“Did this guy not do any background research on her? Did he not look her up at all?”
Corbi added, “Billionaires are smart; they don’t just let people con them out of their money. So, either he really just didn’t know, and that’s kind of dumb, or he knew and just didn’t care, which is even worse.”
Lavie’s newly found relationship with Cloobeck and Swalwell provides one other layer of intrigue.
Cloobeck, the founder of Diamond Resorts and a a number of visitor star on the TV present “Undercover Boss,” not solely gave Swalwell’s gubernatorial marketing campaign a max contribution of $39,200, however he additionally threw $1 million into an unbiased committee supporting Swalwell.
“I’m the one who convinced him to get into the race,” Cloobeck instructed The Post.
Beyond marketing campaign assist, Swalwell reported final yr that Cloobeck gifted him a $31,000 journey to France.
Swalwell’s marketing campaign didn’t reply to The Post’s emailed questions concerning the congressman’s relationship with Cloobeck and his fiancée.
As for the pending nuptials, Cloobeck’s courting historical past suggests the billionaire’s engagement to an alleged honeytrapper might not finish nicely.
He is divorced and has had a number of relationships in latest years that ended with lawsuits.
After simply eight months of courting Lavie, Cloobeck thinks this time will likely be completely different.
“I don’t think anything’s [moving] fast,” Cloobeck stated. “Guess what, I have a life to lead.”
In an interview with the San Francisco Standard final yr, Cloobeck stated that he’d beforehand been the “victim of a cunning serial fraudster.” He now appears content material to as soon as once more be taking part in a dicey recreation of relationship roulette.
“Love is love,” he stated.
