A model once featured as a Penthouse Pet is now at the center of a sprawling criminal case in Los Angeles, accused of targeting wealthy men in an alleged scheme involving theft, extortion, and fraud.
Adva Lavie was arrested after investigators executed a search warrant at her apartment on Holt Avenue in May 2025, according to testimony reported by the California Post. Inside, authorities say they discovered more than $200,000 in cash, gold coins and bars, and a firearm locked inside two safes.
Detective Andrea March testified that officers also recovered at least 40 items of clothing believed to have been stolen. The items, along with roughly 20 pairs of shoes, allegedly belonged to Elizabeth Craine and had been stored at the Beverly Hills home of her father, Michael Craine, who had been romantically involved with Lavie.
The alleged theft came to light when the Craines noticed approximately $100,000 worth of designer clothing and handbags had disappeared, including Elizabeth Craine’s wedding dress. Prosecutors say Elizabeth later identified one of the missing pieces—a distinctive zebra-print dress—being worn by Lavie in photos posted to her Instagram account.
Authorities allege that between 2023 and 2025, Lavie used dating apps to cultivate relationships with wealthy older men and, in some cases, younger women across Los Angeles County, including in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Investigators claim those relationships were often followed by financial demands, unauthorized charges, or threats.
One alleged victim, Alireza Salehpour, testified that after meeting Lavie at an art festival in Miami and later having dinner in Los Angeles, he received payment requests for $50 in transportation costs and $100 for time spent together. When he refused, Lavie allegedly posted his photo on social media with a caption insulting his appearance and finances, and threatened to keep it online unless he paid. He ultimately sent the money, according to testimony.
Another man, Scott Thurman of Hermosa Beach, told investigators he met Lavie through Tinder and later discovered fraudulent charges on his credit cards, including purchases for cosmetics and airline tickets. When he confronted her and threatened legal action, Lavie allegedly accused him of sexual assault.
In court, Lavie’s attorney Louis Shapiro presented text messages in which Lavie described a sexual encounter with Thurman as non-consensual. Thurman, according to the defense, responded by asking for forgiveness.
A third alleged victim, Eden Lynn Strelioff, reported that her purse was taken while she appeared on a Las Vegas podcast in 2025. Police say Lavie, using the alias Mia Ventura, was also present that night. Strelioff later discovered two missing credit cards and $500 in cash. Court documents allege one of those cards was later used for $900 in charges at a Beverly Hills salon.
Lavie now faces six felony charges, including grand theft, burglary, and unauthorized use of personal identifying information. She is expected to be arraigned Monday.
The case has also drawn attention due to Lavie’s engagement to billionaire Stephen Cloobeck, who has reportedly funded her legal defense. Cloobeck told The Post that Lavie had been involved in what he described as a “dark underbelly” of Los Angeles social life, where wealthy men pay for companionship with the expectation of something more.
Lavie is currently under house arrest with electronic monitoring and is not permitted to leave California as the case moves forward. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing, including a review of potential additional financial crimes.
